The pioneering work of Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre-in-Education company has been saved by a deal with the actors’ union Equity.
In January the theatre’s management board decided to make 11 staff redundant and end TIE work. Equity blacklisted the theatre and it was threatened with closure. But the union suspended the boycott while negotiations took place.
The management has now agreed to fund jointly with Equity a head of education development, the 11 staff who will be made redundant at the end of the month will be employed on casual contracts and four staff will be employed from September to help develop TIE.
