Hello, and welcome back to Week in Review, our roundup of industry-wide news. From stage to screens big and small, we’ve got you covered. It’s everything you need to know and all you can’t afford to miss.
Equality Commission intervenes after theatre harassment case
A theatre company at the centre of a sexual harassment case has become the first in the industry to see an intervention from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in efforts to safeguard employees. Rainbow Theatre Productions, based in Surrey and making theatre for children and communities, is now subject to a legal agreement with the national body to protect employees against sexual harassment and to ensure that complaints are dealt with swiftly and appropriately.
The EHRC contacted the theatre company after an employment tribunal found that Rainbow Theatre actor Helen Haines had been subjected to harassment from colleagues, leading to her resignation. Last year Haines was awarded £10,500 in compensation after a court found actor Chay Lewandowski and director Lee Payne had sexually harassed her in 2016, with the Rainbow Theatre liable.
Now the EHRC have used powers granted under the Equality Act to ensure that those employed by Rainbow Theatre “are better protected against harassment.” Rainbow will be required to undertake training on sexual harassment, prepare an equality and diversity policy, an anti-harassment policy and disciplinary and grievance procedures. As part of the agreement, the theatre company will also have to ensure all staff members are clear about what constitutes acceptable conduct. Rebecca Hilsenrath, the EHRC’s chief executive, said: “No one should ever feel threatened or unsafe in their working environment. It is up to employers to protect their staff from sexual harassment in the workplace. Where organisations are failing to do this we will step in and ensure action is taken.”
Read: Resources for UK Actors Who Have Experienced Harassment or Assault
RSC partners with Fortnite makers to create immersive and VR experiences
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has partnered with organisations including Punchdrunk and the creators of Fortnite to create an immersive performance. The video game company Epic Games will work with the world-renowned RSC and other immersive performance makers as part of an £18 million initiative that aims to explore virtual reality technology across creative industries. It’s one of three projects to receive funding from Innovate UK, a public body championing the UK as a world leader in immersive technologies.
Along with Manchester International Festival and the Philharmonia Orchestra, the RSC-led project will see “some of the best brains in the creative industries and research sector” collaborate to explore how live performance and VR technology can be combined, finishing in 2020. RSC artistic director Gregory Doran said: “Every partner has something different to offer through their work with immersive technologies and live performance, and the potential to deliver an experience for audiences that has never been seen before is hugely exciting.”
Read: Acting in the World of Virtual Reality
Calls for government to ‘crack down’ on low-value arts degrees
A think tank has called for the government to “crack down” on arts degrees that are “not economically worthwhile” because they offer little value for graduates and taxpayers. Centre-right think tank Onward released a report last week claiming that graduates of creative arts and design degrees, including drama and music, are among the lowest-earning of UK graduates – despite the subjects being some of the most popular. The report found that a decade after graduating, the median creative arts graduate earned just £23,200 – less than half that of the highest-earning graduates.
Although Onward recognised that there are “many worthwhile non-economic reasons for going to university,” the report also said that “there is no good reason a student should be expected to take out a £9,250 a year loan to pay for a course of little or no economic value, exploiting taxpayers who are ultimately liable.” They are calling for the government to restrict the number of students taking arts degrees and offer incentives for students studying subjects with higher earning potential.
The think tank’s report follows comments from Ofsted’s Amanda Spielman, who last year claimed that further education arts courses offered “relatively poor prospects” and risked giving “false hope” to students entering into arts careers.
Petition to save original production of Les Mis gathers pace
More than 2,400 people have signed a petition calling on producer Cameron Mackintosh to retain the original production of Les Misérables in the West End. Launched after the announcement that a newer touring production will replace the West End show after it returns from a hiatus later this year, fans and former cast members have joined in the fight to save “the original Les Misérables.” Changes include losing the revolving stage – which one signatory said “is one of the most iconic and irreplaceable parts of Les Mis.”
Read: Pinter Abounds at the Pinter + More UK Theatre News
Stage production news
Artistic director Michelle Terry has launched her second season at Shakespeare’s Globe, announcing productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Henry IV and Henry V. Terry herself will appear as Hotspur in Henry IV Part I, one production in a female-led trilogy of history plays that also includes Helen Schlesinger playing Falstaff and Sarah Amankwah as King Henry V. Former artistic director of the Lyric Hammersmith Sean Holmes directs A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Blanche McIntyre takes on Ben Jonson’s comedy Bartholomew Fair. Further casting is ongoing.
Read more here.
Screen production news
The Young Vic’s artistic director Kwame Kwei-Armah spoke out about wanting to make a tribute to his parents’ experience as immigrants as he announced his series of televised monologues, Soon Gone: A Windrush Chronicle. The acclaimed actor, writer and director said that the series “is now very personal for me” and that he hopes it will do justice to the lives of mid-20th-century West Indian immigrants, known as the Windrush generation. Eight 15-minute films overseen by Kwei-Armah were made by Lenny Henry’s production company Douglas Road in collaboration with the Young Vic and will be shown on BBC Four next month.
Read more here.