WEST END performers and staff vowed to make their wealthy bosses “pay up” at Equity’s annual conference today.

The performing arts and entertainment union is threatening a summer of disruption estimated to cost producers £100,000s per day.

Delegates gathered for a photo-call to back the union’s pay and conditions demands at Durham Miners’ Hall as voting on indicative strike ballot over the issue closed today.

West End performers and staff are being forced to take third jobs and unable to take time-off despite Box Office revenues hitting a record £1.08 billion last year, delegates heard.

The 22.19 per cent pay rise over the past three years has “barely kept up with inflation,” said members of the negotiating team.

“Together we will take the fight to the bosses and together we will make them pay up,” the worker, who wished to remain anonymous due to fears of blacklisting, added.

Delegates have told of how self-employed West End contracts result in hourly pay substantially below the national minimum wage and dangerous working practices, with producers conflating job roles without agreed contracts. 

Equity general secretary Paul W Fleming has warned that there was a real prospect that the Saturday and overtime walkouts being balloted over would cost West End producers hundreds of thousands of pounds a day.

A spokesperson for the Society of London Theatre said: “We are aware that Equity intends to consult its members on the current position in the negotiations.

“Discussions to date have been constructive, conducted in good faith, and have made meaningful progress in a number of areas. 

“We remain committed to the jointly agreed process, and to continued productive discussions with Equity, with the aim of reaching a fair, sustainable minimum terms agreement as soon as possible.”