Exclusive: Northern musicians see their wages halved

Northern Ballet, which has scrapped its orchestra, is recruiting London players for a Midlands tour – at half of last year’s rates.

The fee on offer is £480, down from £800 a year ago. Among other insults, musicians will be paid £36 per day to relocate to Leeds in place of full fares and accommodation rates.

Beneath the letter of engagement is a royal crest, declaring ‘Funded by the UK Government’.

For shame.

Travel and Subsistence payments will be made four weeks in advance of the engagement, where possible. We are offering a Leeds Relocation Allowance of £180.00 per week, or for part of a week (up to 5 days), £36.00 per day. For touring venues outside of a 15-mile radius of Leeds, UK Theatre Subsistence Allowances will be paid per day of engagement, and a travel payment from Leeds at £0.39 per mile, as outlined below:

Travel (Nottingham): £56.39 Subsistence: £81.86 per day

Travel (Sheffield): £28.24

Travel (London): £152.26

Travel (Norwich): £136.97