| Collection Description | The Writers', Actors', Artists' and Musicians' Association (WAAMA) was the predecessor to the
Irish Actors' Equity Association. The WAAMA represented the various cultural fields but by the
1940's its activities had contracted to the extent that it was operating exclusively on behalf of
actors. This suggested the necessity for reorganisation and redirection. Among the options
discussed at this time were amalgamation with the British Equity which had opened a Northern
Ireland branch in April 1948, amalgamation with the Variety Artists' Federation or with the Irish
Transport and General Workers' Union (ITGWU). Despite these options at a general meeting in
January 1949 members concerned themselves with reorganisation, adopting the name Irish
Actors' Equity Association, a new constitution and set of rules.
Initial discussion of draft rules focused upon eligibility for membership of an association for those
who were professionally involved in all aspects of acting and production. From the beginning,
Equity was not restricted to theatrical production and became more involved with the
organisation of performers in all the performing arts; TV, variety and cabaret, ballet and
advertising.
Equity was involved and cooperated with other national performers unions, especially the
International Federation of Actors (Federation Internationale des Acteurs). An executive
committee member of the IFA, Equity hosted a symposium on 'The theatre and the actor in
society' in Dublin in 1969. [UCD Archives] |
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