FilmIndia (Feb-Dec 1949)

fbis Child Scandal Must Shock Mothers By: ■ ■ Doris •James Mothers of stage-struck children are likely to be startled when the team of special investigators appointed by Britain's Home Office to enquire into child employment in the theatre makes its report. Behind the pantomime footlights and the fairy world of illusion there are unfolding horrifying tales of callous exploitation by the more unscrupulous managers. Underfed and overworked youngsters living on a few shillings a week in dirty lodgings, under a supervisor only a few years older than themselves, represent a scandal that puts the black sheep managers under a damning spotlight. London. Many people who laughed at and pplauded the clever children in the littering pantomimes in Britain lis New Year are going to be shock1 and horror-stricken very soon, hen a team of investigators pre;nts its report to the Home Office jmmittee of inquiry into child nployment on the stage. The Home Secretary set up the jmmittee last June, to consider nder what safeguards of health, elfare, and education the employlent of children as film actors juld be allowed, and also to review le existing provisions governing le employment of children in theaical work and in ballet. Early in November the "trade fiion" of the British stage, British Actors" Equity, went into action in an attempt to put an end to the exploitation of young children by ruthless theatrical producers, especially in pantomime. Peter Bentley. David Duncan. James Edgar, and Vera Raymond — the first three actor-producers, the last an actress — were sent by Equity on a mission to investigate conditions and gather evidence to submit to the Home Office. Their work is nearly complete. * OVERWORKED AND UNDERFED "Scandalous racket" is not too strong a term to describe the conditions they have uncovered. Not all towns are affected, of course, but a large number of provincial cities and villages which staged this year's |rHE SUNNY SIDE) — These are some of the nell-looked after children of (he stage. But there is another side and a grim one as you will find in the article above Recruit Ratan Lall Vyas, of Jallap Street, Jodhpur, is 24, 5'-8", speaks Hindustani and has great liking for screen acting. 250-odd pantomimes are guilty of permitting the disgraceful state of affairs already discovered. Little girls receiving a "salary" of five shillings for a week's work of twelve performances; sleeping six and more in a small room; living on meagre and unsuitable rations; overworked in some cases to the point of physical exhaustion. These are some of the things revealed, which have been going on for years. Such children are mere commodities in this traffic in human beings. The manager (or manageress) of a troupe of child dancers receives, say, £3 per child. Out of this sum he expects to retain half as his profit. The remaining 30 shillings goes to pay the child and to cover all living expenses, including board and lodging. Five shillings from this amount as salary leaves 25 shillings for the child's keep, in a boarding house. How many boarding houses do you know that for 25 shillings a week can adequately sleep and feed a child performing exhausting work? In at least one city, according to an Equity official, the manager of a local theatre was asked bv the manager of a child troupe to 'fix up accommodation— full board and lodging— at £1 a head! SCANDAL OF CHILD "SUPERVISORS" Officially, troupe managers are supposed to supply a matron or 57