Performers throughout England are reporting that a casting agency has failed to compensate them for completed assignments, leaving some out of pocket by thousands of pounds. Their situations have shed light on broader worries regarding a “power hierarchy” within the entertainment field.

Sharon Stanton, a wedding singer, was thrilled when her two kids chose to pursue careers in the entertainment industry, with her youngest landing his first paid gig earlier this year.

“He recorded a self-tape in March, which he sent back to the agent, who said the casting team was really impressed with him and offered him the role,” she recounted.

“It was fantastic news, and we were overjoyed as it marked his debut in commercials. He completed the job and had a wonderful experience, and we left feeling great.

“However, when I sought payment about two weeks later, that’s when things started to unravel.”

Despite numerous follow-ups with Lucy Harrison Casting, five months have passed and they still have not received payment for the job.

Ms. Stanton, who has been in the industry for over 15 years and hails from Bristol, discovered through social media that they were not alone in their plight.

“As I delved deeper and read more, it became clear that many others across the nation had faced similar issues with this agency, with some owed thousands,” she stated.

“It’s incredibly frustrating, and it makes me wonder, who is there to assist these children?”

Lucy Harrison Casting claims to represent “unique and diverse talent” and is believed to have enlisted hundreds of models and actors.

On its website, the agency lists collaborations with brands like Boots, Coca-Cola, and Cancer Research UK.

Natalie Neri from London has also been pursuing Lucy Harrison Casting for payment for a job she completed in May.

She collaborated with three others on the same job, and none of them have received their payments.

“I am at a loss of over £1,000 – of which £128 was for travel and hotel expenses that were promised to be reimbursed,” Ms. Neri mentioned.

“I know that the casting agency has already collected the money, as I’ve been in contact with the production company.”

“For myself and the other models, we are all owed £1,000 each, and I’m furious because Lucy Harrison Casting has essentially taken my hard-earned money.”

The BBC has spoken with actors from various regions in England who are waiting for payments, with some arrears dating back to 2024.

Lucy Harrison Casting operates under two business names. Happy House Productions, located in East Sussex, voluntarily dissolved at the end of June, while Happy House Media Limited continues its operations.

Both companies share the same director.

Emails sent to clients of Lucy Harrison Casting, reviewed by the BBC, indicated that despite Happy House Productions’ liquidation, the agency intends to “keep operating.”

The website is still active and appears to now be managed by Happy House Media Limited.

Some actors have reported the agency to the government’s Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate.

A representative from the Department for Business and Trade stated: “We take all relevant complaints regarding agencies seriously and ensure thorough investigations are conducted to protect consumers and businesses nationwide.”

Lucy Harrison Casting asserted that “both Happy House Media Ltd and Happy House Productions Ltd have always functioned as Lucy Harrison Casting, working with the same talent across both sectors of the business,” and claimed that their activities are “fully compliant with UK law.”

Actress Alexa Morden – known for her roles in Skins, Fresh Meat, and The Great Train Robbery – hosts a podcast titled The 98%, which delves into the realities of the profession.

She has been investigating the issues surrounding Lucy Harrison Casting for several months.

“I began collecting information about people’s experiences,” she explained.

“I decided to make an Instagram post because by that point, I had seen enough evidence of unpaid wages and heard from production companies that had informed me the agency had received payment months ago. That’s when it really escalated.”

Ms. Morden believes these challenges are indicative of a larger issue within the industry.

She noted: “The perceived hierarchy of power makes actors feel they can’t challenge the status quo.

“They feel unable to speak up or advocate for themselves because of this long-standing notion that ‘if you don’t accept it, there are countless others eager to take your place.'”

Equity, the main trade union for the entertainment sector, has now cautioned its members against collaborating with the agency.

Some of those who remain unpaid report that they flagged concerns to the union and Spotlight, which works to connect performers and agents, as far back as last year.

Both Equity and Spotlight acknowledged that they became aware of payment issues earlier this year and had reached out to the Employment Agencies Inspectorate.

While Lucy Harrison Casting did not confirm whether actors owed payment would be compensated for their work, it did specify that those contracts were “executed via Happy House Productions Ltd” and “fall under the liquidation process.”

For Ms. Stanton, the issue transcends monetary concerns.

“These individuals are exploiting children and their parents,” she lamented.

“And there’s a complete lack of regulation in this industry; that’s the bigger issue here.”