Mission

Some Kind of Theatre aims to promote enjoyment of literature and theatre, and to widen access to the arts for creatives and audience members alike.

 

 

 

Equality & Diversity Statement

Allowing forgotten voices to be heard is central to what we do. We aim to widen access to theatre for audience members and creatives, be representative, and give platforms to performers and creatives from diverse backgrounds.

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To this end, we hold open auditions for a minimum of one show per season and strive to publicise these auditions to a wide range of performers including, but not limited to: unrepresented performers, performers from working class backgrounds, disabled performers, LGBT+ performers, Global Majority performers. We cast the majority of roles in our shows gender-blind and age-blind.

Diversity will be an item on every meeting agenda and will be a key consideration in artistic and organisational planning and all board members are encouraged to be proactive in furthering the aims defined here within their own areas of responsibility for the company.

We believe that every creative and performer is essential to a show’s successes and, to this end, in profit-share productions all creatives and performers shall receive the same percentage share of profits.

This is a live document which should be reviewed and updated regularly and shared within the board. Those working with us must agree to work with us to uphold our welfare policy and equality and diversity aims.

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Actions Going Forward

- We must examine our decisions throughout our audition and show processes to ask if we have made each opportunity and role as representative, accessible, open and diverse as it can be and address this if it is not.

- In continuing our programme of workshops, we must ask ourselves if we are making these as accessible as possible and address this if they are not.

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Equal Opportunities

- No creative, performer, or stakeholder shall receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of sex, race, colour, nationality, disability, HIV status, ethnic or national origins, class, marital status, civil status, sexual orientation, gender re-assignment, age, trade union activity, political or religious belief.

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Audience Development & Engagement

- We will work to attract new audiences to both our work and the wider world of theatre, while encouraging repeat attendance.

- We will work to make our performances as accessible and welcoming as possible.

- We believe very strongly theatre is for everyone, not just the wealthy, and – to this end – in instances where we are able to control ticket pricing our full priced tickets for our 60 minute shows in traditional venues shall not be priced at more than National Minimum Wage for over 25s +£1.50. (E.g., in 2021, a one hour show in a theatre space shall not be priced at more than £10.41).

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Welfare Policy For Our Rehearsal and Production Processes

- Scenes which deal with potentially upsetting topics should be handled sensitively in rehearsal processes and performance. During the official read-through for the show, the director or assistant director should make the cast and crew aware of such scenes in advance and offer the cast and crew an opportunity to take a short break after reading such scenes. Cast and crew should be made aware of when such scenes will be rehearsed. During the first action rehearsal for such scenes, a read-through of the specific section should be held and the cast and crew should be made welcome to ask any questions or express any concerns. Frequent breaks should be offered throughout such rehearsals. We support the use of content warnings in order to allow our audiences to make informed decisions about whether the content of our shows is right for them.

- We encourage casts to appoint an Equity and non-Equity representative for the duration of the show process.

- We and all those working with us have the right to a safe and professional working environment and this should be upheld and reflected in language and behaviour within the rehearsal room and beyond.

- Welfare concerns and general concerns should be brought to the director or assistant director or, in instances where this is not appropriate, the company board.

- We encourage the use of assistant directors in the rehearsal room, not only to provide training and development opportunities for new directors, but to ensure that creatives and performers involved in our processes have an additional route through which they can seek support or express welfare concerns during the show process.

- We support those who experience negative mental health and this should be reflected in our language and behaviour within the rehearsal room and beyond.

- We aim to make our company a welcoming and accessible place for disabled creatives. We welcome access statements from those working with us and are willing and ready to make changes to our creative processes to make our work and rehearsal processes more accessible to them.

- As a company, we will not work with individuals or organisations who engage in abusive behaviour or who commit sexual violence.

 

Document last reviewed: September 2021. Next review due at Winter 2021 board meeting.

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