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| UK theatres back plan to improve diversity among offstage staff | UK theatres back plan to improve diversity among offstage staff |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| More than 90 UK theatres have signed up to a trade union initiative seen as the largest effort yet to tackle the lack of offstage diversity in the industry. | More than 90 UK theatres have signed up to a trade union initiative seen as the largest effort yet to tackle the lack of offstage diversity in the industry. |
| An action plan developed by Bectu, the entertainment and media trade union, was published on Tuesday and supported by theatres including the National Theatre and National Theatre Scotland as well as commercial groups including Lloyd Webber Theatres and Ambassador Theatre Group. | An action plan developed by Bectu, the entertainment and media trade union, was published on Tuesday and supported by theatres including the National Theatre and National Theatre Scotland as well as commercial groups including Lloyd Webber Theatres and Ambassador Theatre Group. |
| Among those welcoming the plan was Kwame Kwei-Armah, the artistic director of the Young Vic in London. He said it was a sign of action, not just talking. | Among those welcoming the plan was Kwame Kwei-Armah, the artistic director of the Young Vic in London. He said it was a sign of action, not just talking. |
| “When we walk into a theatre, not just on the stage, but when you walk into the administrative offices or backstage and you don’t see anyone who looks like you, you think that this is not for you. It is as simple as that. | “When we walk into a theatre, not just on the stage, but when you walk into the administrative offices or backstage and you don’t see anyone who looks like you, you think that this is not for you. It is as simple as that. |
| “We shouldn’t be talking about this in five or 10 years time, we should just be celebrating this moment as a watershed.” | “We shouldn’t be talking about this in five or 10 years time, we should just be celebrating this moment as a watershed.” |
| Four years ago, Arts Council England announced it would start publishing data on the diversity of arts organisations. It revealed some theatres had an entirely white workforce. In London, where 41% of the population is black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME), some theatres had a BAME workforce as low as 5%. | Four years ago, Arts Council England announced it would start publishing data on the diversity of arts organisations. It revealed some theatres had an entirely white workforce. In London, where 41% of the population is black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME), some theatres had a BAME workforce as low as 5%. |
| Research for UK trade bodies last year revealed 93% of people working in theatres were white. | Research for UK trade bodies last year revealed 93% of people working in theatres were white. |
| The actor Adrian Lester said Bectu’s plan was “long overdue and very welcome” after decades of acknowledgements that the entertainment industry had a problem. | The actor Adrian Lester said Bectu’s plan was “long overdue and very welcome” after decades of acknowledgements that the entertainment industry had a problem. |
| “Sometimes I think the only training programme we need is one that trains the people who currently make the content … trains them to engage with their unconscious bias,” he said. | “Sometimes I think the only training programme we need is one that trains the people who currently make the content … trains them to engage with their unconscious bias,” he said. |
| He recalled being at the Baftas in 2004 and picking up an award on behalf of visual effects crews on the film The Day After Tomorrow. From the stage he saw only a handful of BAME people among the 1,700-strong audience. And beforehand the cameras that capture the reactions of potential award recipients did not film Lester but pointed at another “black guy in a suit” sitting four rows in front and looking confused. | He recalled being at the Baftas in 2004 and picking up an award on behalf of visual effects crews on the film The Day After Tomorrow. From the stage he saw only a handful of BAME people among the 1,700-strong audience. And beforehand the cameras that capture the reactions of potential award recipients did not film Lester but pointed at another “black guy in a suit” sitting four rows in front and looking confused. |
| Lester added: “We are the mirror that reflects our country to itself … if our industry doesn’t change and change soon we run the risk of becoming obsolete and I really think this plan is one of the steps to stop that happening.” | Lester added: “We are the mirror that reflects our country to itself … if our industry doesn’t change and change soon we run the risk of becoming obsolete and I really think this plan is one of the steps to stop that happening.” |
| Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said diversity was not a challenge to be managed but an asset and a source of pride, progress and prosperity. | Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said diversity was not a challenge to be managed but an asset and a source of pride, progress and prosperity. |
| He added: “Despite our cosmopolitan culture and commitment to multiculturalism, the truth is we have a real problem with representation. Wherever you look from business to media, to politics and the public sector, people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds are conspicuous by their absence.” | He added: “Despite our cosmopolitan culture and commitment to multiculturalism, the truth is we have a real problem with representation. Wherever you look from business to media, to politics and the public sector, people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds are conspicuous by their absence.” |
| The plan, launched at the Coliseum in London, makes 12 recommendations including the creation of union and management joint working groups and practical steps to attract diverse applicants for jobs. | The plan, launched at the Coliseum in London, makes 12 recommendations including the creation of union and management joint working groups and practical steps to attract diverse applicants for jobs. |
| Philippa Childs, the head of Bectu, said it was pleased by the level of support. “At the outset we thought we would be doing well if 30 theatres signed up. Then we thought we might make it to 50. So we are absolutely delighted to have achieved 92 signatories … it tells us that the industry wants to be inclusive and is prepared to work in partnership with the union to make change happen.” | Philippa Childs, the head of Bectu, said it was pleased by the level of support. “At the outset we thought we would be doing well if 30 theatres signed up. Then we thought we might make it to 50. So we are absolutely delighted to have achieved 92 signatories … it tells us that the industry wants to be inclusive and is prepared to work in partnership with the union to make change happen.” |
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