Ex-singers sue Scottish Opera over chorus work

Published on Saturday 17 February 2007 00:26

TWO former chorus members with Scottish Opera have sued the company for £65,000, claiming they were refused freelance singing work despite passing auditions.

William Strachan and Jane-Marie O'Brien lost their full-time jobs with Scottish Opera two years ago when it laid off 88 workers, including 34 chorus members, after running deep into debt following a series of financial crises.

They claim Scottish Opera, which no longer has a full-time chorus, broke an agreement with the actors' union, Equity, to give sacked staff the first chance of freelance work.

Mr Strachan, of Auchinleck, in Ayrshire, has raised an action at the Court of Session in Edinburgh seeking 35,000 compensation.

Soprano Ms O'Brien, of Blantyre, Lanarkshire, is suing for 30,000. The figures represent loss of earnings, of potential earnings, and damages, Equity said yesterday.

Both claim that by failing to offer them work, Scottish Opera is in breach of contract. They maintain that they were unable to find alternative work and that their reputations as opera singers would have been enhanced by performing in three national productions.

The two lawsuits are a throwback to troubled times at a company, which now claims to be emerging solvent and stable after years of upsets and bail-outs. Scottish Opera is returning to touring, but will produce only four full-scale operas this year, to ensure it does not go over budget.

Mr Strachan, a tenor, and Ms O'Brien were among 20 chorus members made redundant in 2005.

The opera company was seeking to produce four operas during its 2006 season. Threeneeded a chorus.

Equity, representing the singers, began negotiations with the company over terms and conditions on which former employees would be taken on a freelance basis.

The union was told any of the 20 who passed an audition would have "first refusal".

In their actions, Mr Strachan and Ms O'Brien say they attended auditions in December 2005, and passed. Mr Strachan said he was told in February 2006 that he was not being offered work as he failed the audition.

Scottish Opera is contesting the actions and says assurances given to Equity did not give rise to legally enforceable rights.

It insists both former chorus members failed the auditions. It also claims that the damages sought are excessive.

The issue of whether Scottish Opera needs a full-time chorus, something many major opera companies insist on, is still a matter of bitter debate.

Lorne Boswell, of the Scottish branch of Equity, said the witness list in the case could range from Scottish Opera employees to opera experts. "The ball is clearly in their court. If they want to settle, we are more than happy to talk to them, but if they want to play hardball we are prepared to play hardball," he said.

Scottish Opera refused to comment.