Find your union and professional support
Different roles across theatre and the performing arts are represented and supported by different organisations. This guide will help you identify the trade union most likely to cover your work, alongside professional associations and networks that may also be useful.
Start by choosing the description that feels most relevant to your work.
FMTW NOTE
Your work may not fit neatly into one category. The role descriptions in this finder are simply routes into the information, not labels that define you or your practice. For example, a singer may identify as a performer, a musician or both, while costume, wardrobe, wigs, hair and make-up roles may sit across design, production and backstage work.
Choose the description that feels closest to how you define your work, and explore more than one route if your practice overlaps several areas. The organisation itself can confirm whether it covers the work you do.
Thinking about joining a union? It is usually better to join before a problem arises. Some unions may be unable to advise or represent you about an issue that began before you became a member.
Eligibility, membership costs and the support provided vary. Always check the organisation’s current terms before joining.
Find your union in 60 seconds
Choose the area that best describes the work you do. We will show you the trade union most likely to represent that work and highlight other professional organisations that may be useful.
This is a starting point, not a definitive membership recommendation. Union coverage can overlap, particularly if you work across several roles or different parts of the creative industries. Check the organisation’s eligibility criteria or contact it directly if you are unsure.
Performing, directing and stage management
Your likely trade union
Equity is the principal UK trade union for actors, performers, singers, theatre directors, stage managers and many other creative practitioners working in live performance.
Equity provides workplace and contract advice, publishes rates and agreements, represents members and campaigns collectively for better pay and working conditions.
Professional support also worth exploring
- Stage Management Association, for specialist stage-management guidance, training, peer support and employment resources.
- Stage Directors UK, a professional membership association for theatre and opera directors.
- Spotlight, a professional casting platform used by performers, agents and casting professionals.
What to check
The Stage Management Association and Stage Directors UK offer valuable professional support but do not replace trade-union membership. Performers who also work as musicians, writers or technicians may need to explore another union route for that part of their work.
Technical, production and backstage
Your likely trade union
Bectu is the principal trade union for many people working in technical, production, backstage and non-performance roles across theatre and live events.
Its membership includes employed, contract, casual and freelance workers. Relevant areas can include lighting, sound, stage technology, production management, costume, wardrobe, wigs, hair and make-up, props, construction, venue operations and live-event production.
Professional support also worth exploring
- Association of British Theatre Technicians, for technical guidance, safety, training and professional development across theatre and live performance.
- Association for Sound Design and Production, for people working in theatre sound.
- Association for Lighting Production and Design, for lighting professionals and people entering the field.
- Production Services Association, particularly for people and businesses working in live production and events.
What to check
Technical and production roles can cross theatre, events, film and television. When joining Bectu, describe all the work you undertake so the union can direct you to the most appropriate branch or part of its membership.
Design
Your likely trade union
Equity represents set, costume and lighting designers working in live performance.
Bectu also represents designers across a range of disciplines. Which union is most relevant may depend on your discipline, the type of production and the wider context in which you work.
Professional support also worth exploring
- Society of British Theatre Designers, for set, costume and other performance designers.
- Association for Lighting Production and Design, for lighting designers and production professionals.
- Association for Sound Design and Production, for sound designers and sound professionals.
What to check
Union coverage can overlap. If you are unsure, explain the full range of your work to both Equity and Bectu and ask whether they would cover your role, which part of the union you would join and what support would be available.
Writing and literary work
Your likely trade union
Writers’ Guild of Great Britain is the trade union for professional writers working across theatre, television, film, radio, books, comedy, animation, videogames and audio.
The Guild campaigns for writers, negotiates agreements and provides eligible members with services including contract vetting and professional advice.
Professional support also worth exploring
- Dramaturgs’ Network, for dramaturgs, literary practitioners and people interested in dramaturgical practice.
- Society of Authors, particularly if your work also includes books, translations, illustration or other forms of published writing.
What to check
Membership categories and access to individual services can depend on your professional experience. If you write music as well as lyrics or scripts, you may also want to explore the Musicians’ Union and the relevant music-rights organisations.
Music
Your likely trade union
Musicians’ Union is the principal trade union for musicians working across live performance, theatre, recording, composition and music education.
It supports employed and freelance musicians, including instrumentalists, composers, music teachers and people whose careers combine several kinds of music work.
Singers whose professional work is primarily performance may also be eligible for Equity. Actor-musicians may find that both unions are relevant to different parts of their work.
Professional support also worth exploring
- Independent Society of Musicians, a professional membership body supporting performers, composers, educators and other music professionals.
- PRS for Music, if you compose, write songs or need to understand how music royalties are collected.
What to check
The Musicians’ Union is a trade union, while the Independent Society of Musicians is a professional membership body. Their services overlap in some areas but their roles, membership terms and representation are different, so compare what each provides.
Producing, administration and management
Your likely trade union
Bectu represents many people working in non-performance roles across theatre and the arts, including technical and administrative workers.
Bectu also has a collective agreement with the Independent Theatre Council covering freelance theatre producers working in the small-scale theatre sector.
Professional support also worth exploring
- Producers’ Pool, a peer network for creative producers and programmers working in or entering theatre and the creative sector.
- Producer Gathering, which provides producer connections, a directory and practical resources.
- Independent Theatre Council, primarily for performing-arts organisations and producers that meet its membership requirements.
What to check
This is a particularly varied area, and there may not be one union route for every independent producer, arts administrator or manager. Tell Bectu whether you work freelance, as an employee or through your own organisation, and describe the kinds of productions and responsibilities involved.
Choreography, dance and movement
Your likely trade union
Equity represents dancers, choreographers and movement directors, as well as performers and other creative practitioners working across live performance.
Its support can include contracts, rates and agreements, workplace problems, representation and collective campaigning.
Professional support also worth exploring
- One Dance UK, the national support organisation for dance, offering resources, training, advice, networking and professional development.
- People Dancing, particularly for participatory dance artists, community practitioners and dance teachers.
- Stage Directors UK, which also supports choreographers and movement directors through its professional community.
What to check
If you combine performance, choreography, teaching and facilitation, check that the services and insurance included in any membership cover each part of your practice. Teaching in a school, college or university may also create a separate union route.
Circus, variety and live entertainment
Your likely trade union
Equity represents circus artists, comedians, drag artists, cabaret performers, children’s entertainers, magicians, storytellers, street performers and many other variety and live-entertainment practitioners.
Its Variety and Circus hub includes sector-specific advice, networks, contract templates and information about pay and working conditions.
Professional support also worth exploring
- Equity Circus Network, for Equity members working across circus disciplines.
- OutdoorArtsUK, for artists, producers and organisations working in outdoor performance and events.
- The Magic Circle, for eligible professional and non-professional magicians interested in its specialist community.
What to check
This category covers many different kinds of work. Check whether an organisation supports your particular discipline and whether any insurance has exclusions for activities such as aerial work, fire performance, stunts, animals or work at height.
Creative education and facilitation
Your likely trade union
Your most relevant trade union will usually depend on both your creative discipline and the setting in which you teach or facilitate.
- Equity may be relevant if your education or facilitation work forms part of a professional performing-arts practice.
- Musicians’ Union supports musicians working in education, including private and visiting music teachers.
- National Education Union or another education union may be relevant if you are employed in a school or education setting.
- University and College Union may be relevant if you work in further or higher education.
Professional support also worth exploring
- ArtWorks Alliance, for people involved in participatory arts practice.
- Engage, particularly for gallery, visual-arts and participatory learning practice.
- People Dancing, for participatory dance practice.
- Independent Society of Musicians, for music educators and other music professionals.
What to check
Consider whether you are being engaged as a visiting freelancer, an employee, a tutor or through your own organisation. Also compare safeguarding support, professional indemnity and public liability insurance, DBS or disclosure services, and advice relating to education contracts.
I work across several roles or I’m not sure
Start with the work you do most often
Many theatre and performing-arts freelancers combine several roles. Your most appropriate union may depend on the work involved in a particular contract rather than the job title you use to describe your overall career.
- Equity generally covers performers, directors, stage managers, dancers, choreographers, circus and variety artists, and several live-performance design roles.
- Bectu generally covers technical, production, administrative and other non-performance work across theatre, live events and the creative industries.
- Musicians’ Union covers musicians, composers and music teachers.
- Writers’ Guild of Great Britain covers writers working across theatre and other media.
What to do next
Write down the different roles you undertake, the settings in which you work and whether you are usually freelance, employed or engaged on short contracts. Contact the unions that appear relevant and ask which parts of your work their membership would cover.
What to check
You may decide that one union covers the main part of your working life, or that membership of more than one organisation is useful. Compare eligibility, fees, contract and legal support, insurance, professional resources and any restrictions relating to problems that began before you joined.
How unions organise members
Unions organise their members in different ways. Depending on the union, this might be through a branch, sector, profession, workplace or regional structure.
This can affect which meetings you attend, the updates you receive, how you take part in union decisions and where you find specialist support. When comparing unions, ask which part of the union would cover your work and how freelance members can participate.
You do not need to understand the union’s entire internal structure before asking for help or deciding whether to join.
What to compare before joining
Finding an organisation that covers your role is only the first step. Membership fees, eligibility and the support included can vary, so compare the details before deciding what is right for you.
If anything is unclear, contact the organisation and describe the different kinds of work you undertake.
Eligibility and coverage
Check that you are eligible to join and that the organisation covers your role, working arrangement and the parts of the industry in which you work.
Membership cost
Compare joining fees, subscriptions and how payments are calculated. Some organisations offer reduced rates for students, new entrants, lower earners or people who are not currently working.
Advice and contract checking
Find out whether individual advice and contract checking are included, who provides them and whether there are limits on how often you can use the service.
Representation and legal support
Check whether the organisation can represent you in a dispute or provide legal assistance. This support may depend on the circumstances, the merits of the case and the terms of your membership.
Existing problems
Ask whether support is available for an issue that began before you joined. Many unions and membership organisations restrict help with pre-existing problems.
Insurance and other benefits
Check whether membership includes public liability, professional indemnity or other insurance, and whether the cover applies to every part of your work. Treat discounts and additional benefits as useful extras rather than the main reason for joining.
Rates and professional resources
Look at the agreements, rate guidance, templates, training, events and specialist resources available. Check whether non-members can already access any of them for free.
Leaving or changing membership
Check the cancellation process, notice requirements and what happens to advice, representation, insurance or other benefits when your membership ends.
The cheapest membership will not necessarily offer the most appropriate support. Think about the risks and questions you are most likely to face, the kind of representation you may need and how closely the organisation understands your area of work.
If you work across several disciplines, ask whether one membership covers your whole practice or whether different organisations may be useful for different parts of your career.
EXPLORE MORE ORGANISATIONS
This finder highlights some of the principal trade unions and professional bodies supporting theatre and performing-arts freelancers, but it is not a complete directory.
FMTW’s wider Unions, Associations & Networks directory includes additional professional associations, peer networks, representative bodies and organisations supporting particular disciplines, identities and areas of the industry.
Use the directory if you want to explore more specialist support, find a professional community or discover organisations beyond those included in this guide.
Before joining or relying on an organisation’s advice: check its current eligibility requirements, membership terms and services directly. Organisations can change their fees, benefits and areas of coverage.
If you need urgent help with a workplace problem, unpaid fee or legal question, contact the relevant trade union or use FMTW’s Legal Advice directory to explore other sources of support.
Last reviewed: August 2026
Links and guidance can change. Check the date and scope of any external information before relying on it.