header-logo header-logo

02 May 2014
Issue: 7604 / Categories: Case law , Law reports , In Court
printer mail-detail

Injunction—Breach of contract—Personal performance

Ashworth and others v Royal National Theatre [2014] EWHC 1176 (QB), [2014] All ER (D) 171 (Apr)

Queen’s Bench Division, Cranston J, 15 Apr 2014

The musicians formerly employed by the National Theatre to play in the production of War Horse were not entitled to an injunction requiring them to be returned to the play pending resolution of their action for unfair dismissal, even though they had a serious case to be tried 
on their contractual claim. 

James Laddie QC & Claire Darwin (instructed by Slater & Gordon (UK) LLP) for the claimants. David Reade QC & Jeremy Lewis (instructed by Harbottle & Lewis LLP) for the defendant.

The claimants were all professional musicians. They had been employed by the defendant, the National Theatre, to perform in the well-known play War Horse. The play involved some recorded and some live music. Production in other countries had involved only recorded music, and after a time the defendant decided only to use recorded music for the London production. In March

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

DAC Beachcroft—Clare Dewar

DAC Beachcroft—Clare Dewar

DAC Beachcroft strengthens Scottish real estate capabilitywith partner appointment

Womble Bond Dickinson—Brendan Ryan

Womble Bond Dickinson—Brendan Ryan

Womble Bond Dickinson appoints Brendan Ryan as partner in Public Law Projects team

Parklane Plowden Chambers—five appointments

Parklane Plowden Chambers—five appointments

Parklane Plowden Chambers welcomes five new barristers

NEWS
A time-restricted bank tax, a ‘roadmap to fiscal devolution’, extension to parental leave, entrepreneur’s relief and a giveaway on energy bills for households are the headlines in Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey’s 2026 Autumn Budget
A Court of Appeal judge has lamented the ‘very concerning’ state of the law on employee inventor compensation after a chemist’s case took five-and-a-half years to reach court, eventually being listed for a 37-day trial next year
The Law Society has emphasised that responsibility remains human, in a practice note on artificial intelligence (AI)
Respect orders, which enable police, councils, housing associations, transport networks and other authorities to take enforcement action against anti-social behaviour, have come into force across England and Wales
The Land Registry has launched two consultations aimed at making its information more publicly accessible, ‘Restructuring HM Land Registry fees’, and ‘Future of access to HM Land Registry information’
back-to-top-scroll