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Best Practice Research Project

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Person lying on a stage holding a small child aloft with their hands, set against the backdrop of an empty theater with ornate balconies and seating

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Published: April 2018

 

PIPA’s first Best Practice Research Project was undertaken in partnership with The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. The aim was to investigate barriers facing parents and carers working in the theatre industry, identify their needs and any existing supportive practices that could be shared, developed and trialled between participating theatre organisations across the UK.

The PIPA Consortium identified the need to establish an industry baseline in order to get a better understanding of the reality for those with caring responsibilities. Bespoke strategies could then be explored, in response to the findings, to increase access to work for people with caring responsibilities whilst supporting organisations to attract and retain a more diverse workforce.

The outcome of the research was the PIPA Best Practice Charter, the first of its kind, launched in November 2017.

PIPA’s Best Practice Research Project worked too:

1. Highlight exclusions and challenges affecting workers with caring responsibilities in the UK theatre

2. Generate and propagate models of inclusive practice regarding people with caring responsibilities within UK theatre organisations

3. Create a legacy of best practice that could transform the working lives of people with caring responsibilities and contribute to widening inclusion in the arts more generally.

Partners

The Best Practice Research Project was co-funded by the Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, Actors’ Children’s Trust, The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Family Arts Campaign and UK Theatre.
The 15 participating theatre organisations that were involved were:

Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Donmar Warehouse, Dundee Rep Theatre, English Touring Theatre, Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse, Hull Truck Theatre, Mercury Theatre Colchester, National Theatre of Scotland, National Theatre Wales, Northern Stage, Royal Court Theatre, Stellar Quines Theatre Company, Theatre by the Lake and The Old Vic.

 

A silver touring case sits on the ground next to a guitar case

The research found…

Substantial changes in the practice of theatre organisations can be achieved, even in the relatively short term, and that such changes depend upon a willingness to:

• Alter communication strategies with regard to the caring responsibilities of workers
• Allocate resources to supporting people with caring responsibilities
• Reconsider working processes and structures that exclude people with caring responsibilities.