Encouraging Safer and More Supportive Working Practices in Theatre
Encouraging Safer and More Supportive Working Practices in Theatre
By
SOLT/UK Theatre
A UK Theatre and SOLT handbook ensuring that everyone in theatre can prevent and tackle harassment and abuses of power ensuring a safer, more supportive, inclusive working environment.
UK Theatre and SOLT are coordinating industry-wide action to ensure that everyone in theatre and the performing arts can prevent and tackle harassment and abuses of power, and ensure theatre and the performing arts is a safer, more supportive and inclusive working environment for all in the future.
This work sits alongside UK Theatre and SOLT’s broader work to support the theatre and performing arts workforce. Following their conversations with the industry they are sharing:
10 PRINCIPLES to encourage safe and supportive working practices in theatre. The principles are intended to help all employers, employees, workers, freelancers working in all areas of the industry, volunteers, directors and trustees to create a positive tone and culture.
THEATRE HELPLINE, so that anyone working in the theatre and performing arts industry has a resource to help them deal with bullying or harassment, or any other issues affecting their health and well-being. The support line will initially run as a pilot for one year, providing the industry with insight to understand what further support might be necessary, and how it might be funded in the longer term.
RESOURCES AND GUIDANCE
– Example policies, procedures and initiatives from UK Theatre and SOLT members across the country including: Old Vic - Guardians programme, Royal Court – Code of Behaviour, Bristol Old Vic – Respect Charter and Respect Statement.
– A checklist to support you in making sure you have clear, up-to-date policies and procedures for preventing and dealing with harassment and bullying.
This checklist provides information about bullying and harassment, and key points about policies and procedures. This aims to help you to define and prevent behavior that may cause harm or detriment to individuals and expose your organisation to legal action.
Key themes arising from UK Theatre and SOLT‘s open forums.
– Suggestions of good practice arising from the open forums.
– A list of organisations and individuals with specialist skills to help deal with sensitive issues.
– Dignity at Work training. The training has been developed using insight from the open forums.
