If you missed the news!! Here is the story, more than 90 theatres unite in largest ever industry effort to address diversity.
Head of BECTU Philippa Childs said: “BECTU has a proud history of championing diversity. We are delighted that our theatre diversity action plan has been accepted by both the funded sector and commercial theatres, because progress across the industry will widen the talent pool for all employers, making it easier for them to recruit, retain and promote BAME talent. Our new initiative in partnership with the theatre industry is about continuing to strive for inclusive workforces across the creative industries.”
- Leading theatre that have signed up include: The Royal Opera House, the National Theatre, the English National Opera and the Young Vic among the list of theatres part of the largest ever industry effort to address diversity
- 49 theatres in London, 29 theatres across England, and 13 theatres in Scotland have signed up to BECTU’s new action plan to tackle BAME underrepresentation
- Current BAME workforce is as low as 5% in some theatres and BECTU’s innovative new plan provides practical steps for theatres to shift the dial
- Mayor of London launches the new plan along with actor and director Adrian Lester and Young Vic artistic director Kwame Kwei-Armah calling on creative sector to unite to increase access to industry careers
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “It is absolutely vital that people from all backgrounds are able to access the wide array of creative careers available in our theatres. BECTU should be congratulated on leading the way in uniting theatres in London and across the country to ensure their workforces are more representative and I urge the creative sector as a whole to follow their example and increase access to these rewarding careers.”
The plan, launched in November by the Mayor of London at the English National Opera, provides theatres with step-by-step guidance to improve diversity, such as carrying out an accurate assessment of their current workforce, setting targets and improving recruitment processes.
BECTU diversity officer Janice Turner said: “Rather than putting the onus on employers to address this issue alone we decided to assist them by using the best knowledge we had available – our members’ experiences. We asked reps about the reality of theatre recruitment to establish how it really works.
“Once we had the information we were able to put together an informed plan of action for recruiters in theatres to help them take the right steps to ensure that the theatre industry reflects the society we live in. As theatres start to put the plan into action we will continue discussions with them about how they are best placed to continue pushing for progress.”
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