A prominent group of talent agents has launched a scathing critique of the entertainment industry, accusing it of systematically underpaying and undervaluing child actors. The Agents of Young Performers Association (AYPA) has pointed to a specific production of Charles Dickens's Oliver! as a particularly poor example of the sector's treatment of young talent.
Union Criticised for Failing Young Performers
The AYPA has directly criticised the industry union, Equity, for what it sees as a failure to secure better pay and improved working conditions for young performers. This criticism follows a statement from the broadcasting union Bectu, which argued that the arts must not become the 'preserve of the elite'. The AYPA labelled this stance as hypocritical, citing a perceived lack of progress in creating opportunities for actors from disadvantaged backgrounds.
According to reports from the entertainment website Deadline, an unnamed production of the musical Oliver! was singled out as one of the least progressive in terms of pay for its young cast. 'The irony is hard to ignore,' the report stated, 'a story centred on the exploitation and mistreatment of children is being revived under contractual terms that mirror the very issues it portrays.' The AYPA added that the uncomfortable truth appears to be that young performers are simply not a priority for Equity.
The Stark Reality of 'Break-Out' Role Pay
The association warns that without proper financial recognition, aspiring young actors will be discouraged from entering the profession. They used the example of Owen Cooper, star of the award-winning series Adolescence, to illustrate their point. Despite his success, the financial reward for his breakout role was not life-changing.
It is understood that the 15-year-old was paid less than £40,000 for his role in the four-part mini-series. The teenager continues to live with his parents—carer mother Noreen, 52, and IT worker father Andy, 45—in the family's £135,000 terraced house, which has been their home for two decades. There are no outward signs of a significant change in the family's financial situation following his acclaimed performance.
Gulf Between Theatre and Streaming Payscales
Further highlighting the issue, the AYPA sought to expose the vast pay disparity between UK theatre productions and those commissioned by major US streaming services. The group's investigation found that only two West End productions were paying child actors a guaranteed weekly fee.
This stands in sharp contrast to the standard practice for adult actors, who typically receive a set wage even if they are not required for every rehearsal in a given week. This discrepancy places young performers in a uniquely precarious financial position.
In response, an Equity spokesperson told The Times that the union's main priority is child protection, not economic precarity. The spokesperson stated, 'Equity works to improve the pay and working conditions for young performers through our collective agreements and in providing specific advice and support.' The union also maintained that it has a strong record of breaking down barriers that prevent young people from disadvantaged backgrounds from entering drama.
The Daily Mail has contacted Equity for further comment on the allegations. A version of Oliver! is currently being performed in Leeds, though it is not confirmed if this is the production criticised in the report.
