RSC staff vote on Barbican strike

The Royal Shakespeare Company's entire Christmas programme at the Barbican is under threat today as technical staff vote on strike action.

They are protesting over the company's plan to leave its permanent London base for different West End venues.

Eight- five staff - including stage hands, electricians and wardrobe people - met this afternoon to vote. The result will be announced tonight. If they strike the RSC's current and imminent Barbican productions, including Alice In Wonderland, Hamlet, Twelfth Night and The Lieutenant of Inishmore, could be effectively halted.

Bectu is balloting members on the RSC's inability to pledge jobs will not be lost in the May move.

The company is in talks with Barbican management aimed at transferring employment of the 40 or so permanent staff to the Barbican itself. The 45 seasonal staff, employed for six months at a time, seem set to lose their jobs.

The RSC has been company-in-residence at the Barbican since 1982. An RSC spokesman said: "We are doing all we can to preserve jobs."