Actors are taking to the world stage with news that all Equity members in Northern Ireland are being asked to join an upcoming Trade Union Congress (TUC) march to protect jobs from expected post-NI budget cuts.

Billed as Alternative in Belfast the march is on 26th March.

"We are currently facing the biggest threat to funding our sector has experienced in decades.

"With the cuts announced in last year's Comprehensive Spending Review, the reduction in Arts Council NI funds, the withdrawal of huge amounts of local authority support together with the imminent elections in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, now more than ever we need to actively campaign to defend our jobs and workplaces and to make the case for arts and culture," said an actors' union spokesperson.

"These cuts to funding are deep and will affect us all, whether we are working in regional theatre, independent arts, the BBC, UK film, festivals, local pubs and clubs, youth and community groups, dance or theatre in education."

In response the trade union movement is working together to get the UK Government to listen as well as engaging with the elections in Northern Ireland to protect our areas of concern and the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has agreed to host a march and rally against the cuts for lunchtime on Saturday, 26th March.

This is timed to coincide with the TUC rally in London, where Equity will also be 'playing a key role' in London.

"It is important that we have also have a strong presence in Belfast," appealed the spokesman today, noting that the march will depart from the University of Ulster Belfast Campus, at 12.30 to join the rally at Belfast City Hall.

See: www.equity.org.uk/againstthecuts or www.marchforthealternative.org.uk

(BMcC/GK)