A demonstration organised by performing arts union Equity has been suspended, after the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival agreed to enter negotiations for a union agreement.

Equity had previously accused the festival organisers of “wage theft,” claiming that the festival’s Artistic Director, Dr David Crilly, “refuses to employ his actors as workers” and has “unlawfully withheld” pay in previous years. Crilly refuted these claims, accusing Equity of a a “deliberate strategy of sensationalist misinformation”.

A demonstration was due to take place in Cambridge on Monday (14/07), with Equity President Lynda Rooke expected to speak.

However, this has been suspended as Equity says that festival organisers have now agreed to begin negotiations “for a union agreement that will lead to fair pay, terms and conditions for the performers they engage, and comply with the performers’ employment rights as workers in law”.

Equity General Secretary Paul W Fleming described the news as “very welcome,” saying that the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival has engaged “constructively” with Equity. He added that Equity’s “primary duty” is to ensure that artists “can be assured of good work, on rates and terms reasonable for an engager to play, so audiences can enjoy good art created by a dignified workforce”.

Fleming added: “Beginning negotiations on an appropriate collective agreement is a good first step, and the union is entering these in good faith.”

Meanwhile, the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival acknowledged that the “wider legal and regulatory landscape” has “evolved” over the past 30 years that the event has been runnning, meaning it has “become clear that aspects of our operating model now require urgent review”.

The festival added: “We are therefore entering into discussions with Equity to ensure the Festival aligns not only with current legal requirements, but also with the highest ethical standards – so that we can continue this long-standing tradition in a way that is fair, supportive of actors, sustainable, and future-facing.”

The Cambridge Shakespeare Festival described itself as being “pleased” to be “working collaboratively” with Equity, adding that it hopes to reach a “multi-year collective agreement, recognising the union, and enshrining appropriate industry-standard terms and conditions”.

The Cambridge Shakespeare Festival will take place across King’s, Trinity, St John’s, and Downing. It will run from 14 July to 2 August, with tickets being sold for up to £20.