Equiflash Archive

Equity announces that a renewed 2021-2024 Independent Theatre Agreement (ITA) is now available online. The Agreement is now in closer alignment to a mirror agreement of the Canadian Theatre Agreement (CTA).

The 2021-2024 ITA includes three searchable documents: the ITA Material Terms, ITA Minimum Fee Booklet and the COVID-19 Addendum to the ITA, all available for download. Each document includes bookmarks and a hyperlinked Table of Contents.

Hard copies will be available when printing allows. Please note: Printing of the hard copy ITA Material Terms has been delayed due to the Ontario emergency provincial order. Thank you in advance for your patience.

Related ITA support documents for Engagers will soon be made available on Equity’s website as a downloadable management package. The ITA fee calculators will be updated at that time.

Here are some highlights of the revised terms and conditions that can be found in the 2021-2024 ITA, in effect as of May 31, 2021.

What's new in the ITA?

• Financial increases to match the current CTA minimum fees as of May 31, 2021, 1.75% for year-2 starting on June 28, 2021, 2% for year-3 starting on June 27, 2022, and 2% for year-4 starting on June 26, 2023 apply to all minimum fees and other monetary amounts.
• Revision of “As Cast” to “Casting by Consent,” providing Artists with much more agency when accepting roles unassigned at the time of contracting, including the ability to request a meeting with the Director and to turn down the role if it presents a conflict with their identity.
• Enhanced Inclusion article, which requires the Engager to make concrete commitments to increased inclusion in productions and considerations to ensure integrity in casting.
• Expanded audition opportunities, including a requirement to have an entire day every two years for “open auditions” for those Engagers required to hold general auditions.” Further changes require all posted casting to be sent out via Equity's e-Drive, prohibition on requiring an artist to reveal their age or weight, and the removal of any nudity in auditions.
• Gradual reduction of Engagement Level 2 percentages resulting in the removal of Level 2 entirely by the end of this Agreement.
• Enhanced anti-harassment provisions, including mandatory participation in the Not In OUR Space! program and language with respect to signing non-disclosure agreements and reprisal.
• Two new more flexible rehearsal models, allowing for greater pro-rating in one case and non-continuous rehearsal in the other.
• Articles 42:00 to 47:00, which refer to billing and all photography and recording requirements, have been completely re-written and re-structured.
• Inclusion of language to specifically address scenes of intimacy, and for the first time, inclusion of terms and conditions for the engagement of Intimacy Directors and Intimacy Captains.
• For the first time, Theatres will be required to pay Apprentice Stage Managers no less than the applicable provincial minimum wage. An agreement (including an interactive spreadsheet) on how to apply ESA overtime in each province.
• All Equity members engaged as Assistant Directors or Assistant Choreographers shall now be engaged on an insurance only contract but may negotiate to have a full Equity contract.
• New language to facilitate members working on Community Engaged Activities with an Equity contract that addresses the specific conditions of the engagement, while covering the member when doing the work.
• Removal of all gendered pronouns (he/she) in favour of gender-neutral language (the Artist, they, their, etc.).
• Non-Standard Activities now included in the updated applicable terms, conditions and fees for Article 57:00 Workshops, Readings and Non-Standard Activities. Please note: due to reduced staff resources at Equity, clauses with respect to Non-Standard Engagements have been put on hiatus and replaced by Workshops and Readings for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. Equity will advise engagers whether Non-Standard terms will be reintroduced at a later date.
• There are numerous other amendments throughout the ITA, including the move of all audition and understudy clauses into single articles for each topic.

Equity believes that this is an Agreement that reflects the current needs of both Artists and the Theatres at which they work.


For questions and clarifications regarding the 2021-2024 ITA, please contact:

National Office
Margaret Thompson
Business Representative Manager - Theatre Agreements
margaret@caea.com
1-800-387-1856 (416-867-9165 in Toronto)

or

Western Office
Jennifer Riedle
Senior Business Representative
jennifer@caea.com
1-877-682-6173 (604-682-6173 in Vancouver)

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