Equity member receives compensation following injury on tour
An Equity member has accepted £17,500 compensation for substantial injuries to her knee after she tripped on a backstage step that had been added without briefing cast members during an international tour of Mamma Mia.
Anita Booth was appearing in the role Tanya and the tour opened in Bristol, in a traditional theatre, and then moved to Vilnius, Lithuania, where the venue was an ice hockey arena. To allow the set to work within the arena, a new step was added to the exit into the downstage left wing, but the producers failed to brief the cast members about this.
On the first day in the Vilnius Arena, Anita had performed promo numbers on the brightly lit stage and was then asked to make her way quickly into the wings to reach the auditorium for interviews with the local media, these to be done while still dressed in full ‘Super Trouper’ costume, complete with the trademark large platform boots.
Unfortunately, she fell down the step and received extensive bruising to her body and an injury to her right knee.
Although Anita attempted to continue with the tour for a number of weeks, when the leg finally gave way, she was unable to perform and her employment was ended. Anita contacted Equity and was put in touch with Morrish Solicitors, Equity’s team of specialist injury lawyers who began legal proceedings that resulted in the production company’s insurers paying the full claim.
Ends.
For further information, please contact Clair Watmore at Morrish Solicitors on 0113 297 9844
