Diversity and Inclusion Resource Library

Please see our statement on improving diversity in the theatre industry.

Resources for the theatre sector

Our directory of resources is not definitive.

We all need to question what our organisations’ purposes are. If promoting diversity and anti-racism practices are not embedded in our DNA, then what kind of an organisation are we? To quote Angela Davies: ‘It’s not enough to not be racist. You need to be anti-racist.’

Projects followed by an asterisk have either been run, supported financially, or provided with resources and promotion by UK Theatre and Society of London Theatre (SOLT).

We welcome feedback and additional contributions; please email ukt@soltukt.co.uk.

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We have produced a report which sets out SOLT and UK Theatre's current initiatives for improving diversity and inclusion within UK theatres. Our 2021-22 Business Plan includes a dedicated diversity and inclusion section, and diversity and inclusion considerations are integrated throughout.

The list below outlines some of our current and past initiatives:

10 Principles: A code of conduct for the sector to promote workplace environments that are positive and supportive, and that everyone should adhere to. The 10 Principles were originally produced as part of the Safer and More Supportive Working Practices Handbook and will be re-published in Autumn 2021 following an update to make them inclusive of all protected characteristics.
Anti-Racism Touring Rider working group: We have formed a working group to help us consult with our membership on the Anti-Racism Touring Rider and checklist as a practical anti-racist resource for venues, touring companies and producers, and work with the Touring Rider committee on this.
Board diversification: In 2021 we made revisions to both the SOLT and UK Theatre Board Articles of Association, to make the structure of the Boards and election processes more inclusive and give us the flexibility to improve diverse representation at future elections. We then set up a working group to address the lack of representation on the UK Theatre Board. A similar process is to follow for the SOLT Board.
Demographic monitoring: we are implementing annual demographic audits of the SOLT and UK Theatre Boards and memberships. You can download the 2021 UK Theatre audit results here.
Get Into Theatre: we funded this careers advice website for young people for its first two years, and provide ongoing strategic support.
Inclusion & Anti-Racism Working Group: this group was formed in response to the issues raised by the Black Lives Matter movement returning to prominence in 2020. Download the Inclusion & Anti-Racism Working Group's Terms of Reference.
Inclusive Recruitment Guide: we have produced a signposting guide to help theatre employers recruit more inclusively.
Mousetrap Theatre Projects: we are the principal partner for this charity, providing long-term financial support to enable the running of a wide range of theatre-going programmes and education projects for young people, families, state schools and youth groups.
Official London Theatre's access information: we create access resources for London audiences including accessible performance listings and venue information to help plan a visit.
Parents and Carers in Performing Arts: we are a strategic partner of PiPA, working with them to further their objectives of promoting best practice employment and support for parents and carers in the performing arts
Remote Working Toolkit: we commissioned Parents and Carers in the Performing Arts to create a suite of resources for organisations to identify the potential for remote and mixed model working and provide practical tips for implementation.
Safeguarding working group: set up in 2021, this steering group helps shape SOLT and UK Theatre's response to bullying, harassment and discrimination issues within the theatre workforce.
Seven Inclusive Principles: We continue to endorse the Seven Principles for an Inclusive Recovery in Arts and Culture and encourage our members to commit.
Speak-Listen-Reset-Heal Conference: this anti-racism conference for the UK’s theatre and dance sectors was presented by Inc Arts in partnership with SOLT and UK Theatre.
- Read the Speak-Listen-Reset-Heal Conference Evaluation Document (English version)
- Read the Speak-Listen-Reset-Heal Conference Evaluation Document (Welsh version)
Stage One: Bridge the Gap: we part-fund this programme which addresses under-representation for those pursuing a career in commercial theatre producing.
Stage Sight: SOLT and UK Theatre provided strategic and project management support for 12 months to help launch this network, which aims to create an off stage workforce reflective of society.
Theatre Casting Toolkit: we funded and commissioned Tonic to create this practical tool for making meaningful change on our stages.
Theatrecraft: we project manage and run the UK’s largest free careers event for anyone aged 16-30 seeking off-stage roles in theatre.
Training: we have a variety of free webinar recordings available - please see the 'Training courses run by SOLT and UK Theatre' tab below.
UK Theatre Awards: Our annual awards include an Excellence in Inclusivity Award category.

Accessible Theatre's Access Co-ordinator Guide: a guide for anyone tasked with organising captioned, audio-described and BSL interpreted performances
Audience Diversity Academy: helps you and your organisation build long-term relationships with new audiences
The Audience Friend: connecting theatre with people who either never or rarely consider arts events when making choices for their free time
Black Ticket Project : an initiative creating cultural access points for Black young people across England
Creating an Accessibility Guide: advice from Visit Britain on producing an accessbility guide to communicate your facilities and services to disabled people and other customers with access needs
East Asian Ticket Club: an engagement scheme to encourage and increase East Asian participation across the arts in the UK
Mousetrap Theatre Projects*: running a wide range of theatre-going programmes and education projects for young people, families, state schools and youth groups
Official London Theatre's access information*: access resources for London audiences including accessible performance listings and venue information to help plan a visit
STAR's Accessible Ticketing Guide: a best practice guide to making ticket sales accessible to disabled customers from the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers
Ticketing Without Barriers: led by Attitude is Everything, a coalition of ticketing companies, venues and other organisations working together to remove barriers to ticketing
Unlimited's Demystifying Access: a guide for producers and performance makers to help create better access for audiences to the performing arts

Act for Change: campaigning for better representation across the live and recorded arts
Making Self-Tape Auditions Accessible: Equity have produced guidance for Casting Directors
ProFile: a video database of 250+ d/Deaf and disabled actors for use by casting directors
Theatre Casting Toolkit*: a practical tool for making meaningful change on our stages

Creative Access: helping under-represented communities enter the creative industries and thrive when they get in
Get Into Theatre*: careers advice website for young people
Inspiring Future Theatre Day*: an annual celebration of the work theatres across the UK do to inspire young people, communities and schools
Theatrecraft*: the UK’s largest free careers event for anyone aged 16-30 seeking off-stage roles in theatre
Stage One: Bridge the Gap*: addressing under-representation for those pursuing a career in commercial theatre producing
Stage Sight*: Initiatives from Stage Sight members who have committed to rebalancing our off-stage workforce
Theatre Casting Toolkit*: a practical tool for making meaningful change on our stages and in our rehearsal rooms
Theatre Diversity Action Plan*: BECTU's plan includes a guide for employers to give them the ability to identify what can be done in their own theatres. Steps include: carrying out an accurate assessment of the current workforce, setting targets and improving recruitment processes.
Training

Artistic Directors of the Future: creating change at leadership level in the creative industries
Breakthrough: Building Inclusive Organisations: helps leaders and senior management teams understand and overcome barriers to move their organisation on, shift mindsets and enable cultural transformation and growth.
Brilliant Routes: Clore Leadership Programme: a strand of programming focused on progression routes for BAME/POC leaders. This forms a key part of Clore's Inclusive Leadership delivery for Arts Council England’s Transforming Leadership programme, which prioritises activities to address existing gaps in diversity in the leadership of culture
Common Purpose: Streetwise MBA: a programme for leaders who want to be more inclusive
Sour Lemons: Making Lemonade: leadership programme for 18-25 year olds

Access to Work: A Guide for the Arts and Cultural Sector: a guide to the Access to Work scheme, written by Disability Arts Online
Access to Work factsheet for employers: a government produced factsheet explaining the basics of the Access to Work scheme
Backstage Niche: a community of technical and backstage theatre freelancers who aim to encourage the involvement of young people in theatre as well as supporting freelance theatre professionals from global majorities
Centre Stage: report commissioned by Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation highlighting inequalities in the sector, and making recommendations for improving the situation
Creative Mentor Network: Break The Wall: trains industry professionals in small businesses in coaching and creating an inclusive culture
Creative Access: helping under-represented communities to not just enter the creative industries, but to thrive when they get in
Creative and Cultural Skills Build Back Fairer podcast: a new podcast exploring the impacts and opportunities that have arisen from the Covid-19 pandemic
Employment Statutory Code of Practice (Equality Act 2010)
Freedom of Expression Report 2020: This ArtsProfessional survey gathered evidence about the pressures to self censor that artists and arts professionals experience in their working lives, and the ways in which they feel their freedom of expression is curtailed.
Green Park: specialist recruitment consultants recruiting diverse and inclusive workforces
Inc Arts Unlock: gives arts organisations practical steps to take anti-racist action, and comprises over 100 actions to help creative work places become more inclusive
Inclusive Recruitment Guide*: SOLT and UK Theatre have put together a signposting guide to help you recruit more inclusively
Parents and Carers in Performing Arts*: Best Practice Charter Programme: tools and resources to help you work towards attracting and retaining a more diverse and flexible workforce
Race in the Workplace: The McGregor-Smith Review: a review of issues faced by businesses in developing Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) talent in the workplace
Recruitment and Workforce Development Toolkit: this Arts Council toolkit provides best practice downloadable resources, templates and guidance, such as: advertising a job and job descriptions, reasonable adjustments and Access to Work, managing employee and workplace stress, conducting board skills audits and more.
Remote Working Toolkit*: resources for organisations to identify the potential for remote and mixed model working and practical tips for implementation
Socio-Economic Diversity and Inclusion in the Arts: A Toolkit for Employers
Socio-Economic Diversity and Inclusion Toolkit: Creative Industries a practical toolkit to ensure you are adopting an inclusive approach to hiring and progressing staff from low socio-economic backgrounds
Stage One: Bridge the Gap*: addressing under-representation for those pursuing a career in commercial theatre producing
Stage Sight*: Initiatives from Stage Sight members who have committed to rebalancing our off-stage workforce
The British Blacklist: an online platform which celebrates African and Caribbean creative professionals on the Screen and Stage, in Sound and Literature
Theatre Casting Toolkit*: a practical tool for making meaningful change on our stages and in our rehearsal rooms
Theatre Diversity Action Plan*: BECTU's plan includes a guide for employers to give them the ability to identify what can be done in their own theatres. Steps include: carrying out an accurate assessment of the current workforce, setting targets and improving recruitment processes.

In relation to the artistic companies listed below, we have focussed on National Portfolio Organisations as a starting point. We have tried to get a good spread of companies from around the country, not just London. We have highlighted Black British theatre, British East Asian theatre and South Asian theatre as they have the largest representation of theatrical work from the last few years. We know there will be more organisations, and more groups, who we can represent.

Researching this list has raised some interesting questions for us: what defines a diverse organisation? Some organisations have specific remits and artistic objectives embedded in their values and mission statement. For example, some are focused on presenting work by Black voices, or presenting traditional East Asian stories. Some organisations take an inclusive approach to reflect the stories of their diverse communities on stage. Some organisations have Black, Asian or ethnically diverse leaders at their helms, and others have diverse workforces (see this Arts Council England guidance on defining ‘diverse led’ organisations).

Black and Black British Theatre and Resources

Afridiziak: Afridiziak Theatre news is a website celebrating African-Caribbean theatre
Alt A Review: An independent print and digital publication pushing the diversity and inclusion agenda across the arts
Bernie Grant Arts Centre: Tottenham-based arts venue developing culturally diverse artists, and championing Black artists telling their own stories
Black Association for Arts: a network of Black writers, artists, academics, filmmakers, musicians, scientists, lawyers, entrepreneurs, theatre-makers, students and professionals who aim to elevate Black creativity through community
Black Plays Archive: an online catalogue of the first professional production of every African, Caribbean, and Black British play produced in the U.K
Black plays at the National Theatre 1976-2014: Google Arts & Culture online exhibit
Black Theatre and Performance Collection from the V&A
Black Theatre Live: archive of three year programme of national touring, structural support and audience development
Black British Theatre 1950 – 1979 (British Library article)
Blackstage UK: A documentary web series centering black voices in the UK Arts and Entertainment industries
Eclipse: UK-based black-led touring theatre company
Raising the Bar: 100 Years of Black British Theatre and Screen: Lenny Henry presents a radio series on BBC Sounds
Slate World: hosts Eclipse Online, a series of Masterclasses and Socials held on a weekly basis for Black Artists and fellow Artists also marginalised for their race
Talawa Theatre: UK-based black-led touring theatre company
Tangle: a touring theatre company championing African and Caribbean artistic excellence
The Anti-Racist Social Club: a registered charity that works to create spaces and resources for education and open dialogue with White people and non-Black people of colour about becoming anti-racist allies
The New Normal: A manifesto to create a safe space, free of racism, for the black artist. Created by Fuel Theatre's community of freelancers
Utopia Theatre: a Sheffield-based company that produces cross-cultural content that enhances the value of the African community and promotes its recognition and its integration

British East Asian Theatre and Resources

BEATS (British East Asians in Theatre and on Screen)
BEATS Directory: a comprehensive listing of British East Asians working in the screen and stage industries
Chinese Arts Now: producing work that explores Chinese themes, stories and art forms, and work that blends Chinese and other contemporary art forms
Exit Pursued by Panda: a collaborative theatre company championing East Asian writing, acting and directing
Moongate Productions: committed to creating and developing projects that raise the profile of, and give free reign to, East Asian talent whilst actively challenging stereotypical portraits
Papergang Theatre: a theatre company with the aim of improving the representation of British East / South East Asian culture across the dramatic arts primarily in UK theatre. They produce work that is informed by the East Asian experience within Britain and the East Asian diaspora, inspired by the desire to see that perspective on stage.
Red Dragonfly Productions: bringing classic and modern stories from the East to British and European stages
Yellow Earth: international touring theatre company based in London and established to raise the profile of British East Asian theatre

South Asian Theatre and Resources

Asian Culture Vulture: an online arts and culture magazine, founded to highlight and showcase creative work by South Asians living in the West or examine work that is relevant to them
British Asian Theatre Project: a 4 year research project by University of Exeter and AHRC documenting the presence of South Asians on the British stage from 1790s to the 2000s: http://humanities.exeter.ac.uk/drama/research/projects/britishasian/
British South Asian Theatre Memories Oral History Project: exploring the history of British South Asian Theatre since the 1970s
Kali: presenting new theatre by female writers of South Asian descent
Rifco Theatre Company: develops, produces and tours new plays and musicals that reflect and celebrate British Asian contemporary experiences
South Asian Theatre in Britain: a short essay covering the early 1900s to the 1990s:
Tara Arts: creating innovative, politically charged theatre through a South Asian lens and championing South Asian voices and artists, identifying new narratives, new ideas and new forms.

Disability-Led Theatre and Resources

7 Principles to Ensure an Inclusive Recovery: an initiative to ensure deaf, neurodiverse and disabled people are not discriminated against as creative work begins and venues reopen after the Covid-19 pandemic
Attitude is Everything: a charity working to improve Deaf and disabled people's access to live music, with a resources section on their website that contains many practical guides relevant to theatre employers
BSL Interpreter Awareness Guide: a guide for anyone that uses the services of British Sign Language/English interpreters, produced by the National Union of British Sign Language Interpreters
Cards for Inclusion: Created by Unlimited, this is a card game helping the arts sector explore how barriers can be removed
Disability Arts Online: an organisation led by disabled people, set up to advance disability arts and culture
Disability Rights UK: this charity for people with lived experience of disability or health conditions has produced a suite of work related factsheets and guides useful to employers
Graeae's 'How To' videos: video resources for making accessible work online
Making your conference presentation accessible: guidance produced by VocalEyes to help you make your presentations accessible to blind and partially sighted people
National Autistic Society's Guide for Theatres: a guide explaining some of the small adjustments that can make a huge difference to an autistic person's visit to theatre
Ramps on the Moon: a collaborative network of six National Portfolio Organisations and strategic partner Graeae Theatre, enriching stories by normalising the presence of deaf and disabled people on and off stage
Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB): one of the UK's leading sight loss charities and the largest community of blind and partially sighted people, with a useful website section for employers and businesses
Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID): a charity working to make life fully inclusive for for deaf people or those with hearing loss or tinnitus - employers should visit the 'work' section of their website
Sense: a charity for those living with complex disabilities and who are deafblind, providing useful information about removing barriers for those they serve
Shape Arts: a disability led arts organisation which works to improve access to culture for disabled people, and provides resources, training and audits for organisations
What is an access audit?: information from O'Herlihy Access Consultancy on what an access audit is and what it covers
Unlimited: an arts commissioning programme that enables new work by disabled artists to reach UK and international audiences

Theatre and Resources for Diverse Communities

20 Stories High: making theatre with working class and culturally diverse young people, emerging artists and world class professionals
Arcola Theatre: creating trailblazing theatre for all
Battersea Arts Centre: the world’s first Relaxed Venue, with access and inclusivity embedded across all its activities
Belgrade Theatre Coventry: together with the diverse communities across Coventry and the region, enriching and changing people’s lives for the better through theatre
Beyond Face: a performance company based in Plymouth whose mission is to raise the profile and visibility of People of Colour in the Arts
Beyond the Canon: an initiative, led by Simeilia Hodge-Dallaway, championing ground breaking, yet forgotten and hidden plays by culturally diverse writers
Bush Theatre: discovering, nurturing and producing the best new playwrights from the widest range of backgrounds
Everything Matters: an investigative research project produced by Tangle in 2012 and still having an impact several years on. Taking place across South West England, the study captured opinions about African Caribbean theatre, volunteered by 20 theatres and arts organisations across the UK’s largest and most rurally dispersed region, and one of its most mono-cultural areas.
Hackney Empire: a variety theatre for the 21st century that embraces a local and global community of artists and audiences
LIFT (London International Festival of Theatre): bringing international theatre all over London every two years.

LIFT stands for radical empowerment and inclusion, and promotes international perspectives, understanding that difference makes us stronger
Off/Stage ezine: an online, interactive ezine dedicated to British black and Asian theatre and culture.
Parents and Carers in Performing Arts: research investigating the impact of caring responsibilities on those working on-stage and off-stage
Photo library featuring people of colour in off-stage roles
Selina Thompson: an interdisciplinary performance company based in Birmingham
Stage Sight: case studies* from arts organisations working on improving off-stage representation
Stage Sight: useful guides and documents* to help you demonstrate best practice for achieving a more representative off-stage workforce
Tiata Fahodzi: a theatre company for Britain today and the Britain of tomorrow
Young Vic Theatre: presenting high quality work at low prices for some of the most diverse and engaged audiences in London

Armstrong Cameron: research, evaluation and project development in the arts and culture sector, with a focus on socially engaged practice, issues of equality and social justice
Creative Mentor Network: a tailored consultancy and programme design for businesses who want to strengthen diversity and inclusion in their organisation
Green Park: specialist recruitment consultants recruiting diverse and inclusive workforces
Inc Arts: addressing how best to build diverse agency and growth within the sector
Sour Lemons: consultancy services: creating inclusive environments so diverse talent can thrive
Spot The Gap: offer diversity, equality and inclusion strategy, action plans and training as well as advocacy, policy and campaigns strategy for social inclusion issues
The Other Box: an award winning diversity and inclusion company educating businesses on bias.
Tonic Theatre: supporting the arts to achieve greater gender equality and diversity

Recorded webinars available to view at TheatreMeansBusiness.info:

Building foundations for a flexible, future-proofed workforce - led by Parents and Carers in Preforming Arts (PiPA)
Creating Your Racism Defence Strategy - led by Inc Arts, this free recorded webinar explores the impact of racism and strategies to support people who experience both direct and systemic racism.
Future theatre: new ways of storytelling - Ramps on the Moon in conversation with UK Theatre
Removing Barriers for d/Deaf and Disabled People in Theatre - led by Michèle Taylor, Director for Change at Ramps on the Moon
Removing Barriers: Employment - led by Michèle Taylor, Director for Change at Ramps on the Moon
Removing Barriers: Marketing and Communications - led by Michèle Taylor, Director for Change at Ramps on the Moon
Removing Barriers: Your Building - led by Michèle Taylor, Director for Change at Ramps on the Moon

Akram Khan Company: embracing an artistic vision that both respects and challenges Indian kathak form and contemporary dance
Ballet Black: aims to bring ballet to a more culturally diverse audience by celebrating Black and Asian dancers in ballet
Boy Blue: the UK’s most prominent street dance and hip hop performance company
Breakin’ Convention: international festival of hiphop dance theatre
Phoenix Dance Theatre: creating dynamic, diverse and relevant work that embodies the Company’s rich Caribbean history and shines a light on cultural narratives which are often overlooked or untold
Shobana Jeyasingh Dance: founded by Shobana Jeyasingh, whose work is noted for both its intellectual rigour and its visceral physicality
Tavaziva: renowned for its beautiful and dynamic hybridization of contemporary, ballet and African dance, Tavaziva was established in 2004 and is led by Zimbabwean-born Bawren Tavaziva
ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company: ground-breaking storytellers creating original music and dance to inspire the next generation of theatregoers and theatre makers

Smiling faces and rainbow flags: Jules Haworth, Soho Theatre (published Feb 2020)
'Lightning Talk' at Theatre Touring Symposium 2019: Amanda Huxtable, Eclipse Theatre (published Jun 2019)
A customer focussed accessibility ethos: Susan Wildman, Oldham Coliseum Theatre (published Apr 2019)
Widening the Talent Pipeline Across the UK: Simon Dancy, Creative & Cultural Skills (published Mar 2019)
Diversifying theatre leadership in Yorkshire: Robin Hawkes, Leeds Playhouse (published Mar 2019)
Bridge the Gap - giving aspiring producers from under-represented backgrounds opportunities in commercial theatre: Siobhan Walsh, Stage One (published Feb 2019)
Inspiring the Audiences and Workforce of the Future: Harriet Usher, SOLT & UK Theatre (published Feb 2019)
20 Stories High: Developing a More Diverse Generation of Theatre Makers: Julia Samuels, 20 Stories High (published Jun 2018)
It's about time we started to empower Deaf leaders: Paula Garfield, Deafinitely Theatre (published May 2018)
Unreasonable Adjustments? Part Two: Andrew Miller (published May 2018)
Unreasonable Adjustments? Part One: Andrew Miller (published May 2018)
Embedding equality for D/deaf and disabled people into your theatre: Michele Taylor, Ramps on the Moon (published Apr 2018)
Why autism-friendly performances matter: Chris Pike, National Autistic Society (published Mar 2018)
Queer Collective Reflections of the World: Rach Skyer, Arcola Theatre’s Queer Collective (Feb 2018)
Opportunities: Disability and Art: Hannah Treadaway, director and playwright (published Dec 2017)
Perspectives: Disability and Art: Deborah Williams (published Dec 2017)
ProFile - championing D/deaf and disabled performers: Charlotte Bevan, National Theatre (published Dec 2017)
(Online) tickets for all!: Jonathan Brown, STAR (published Oct 2017)
UK Theatre Award Winner: Promotion of Diversity: Justine Themen, Belgrade Theatre (published Aug 2017)
Opening doors: Ensuring parents can access employment in the performing arts: Daniel Buckroyd, Mercury Theatre (Jul 2017)
Overcoming barriers to fundraising (if you're not born/raised in privilege): Poppy Burton-Morgan (published Jun 2017)
What I've Learnt - Access to the Arts: Alison King, Turtle Key Arts (published Jun 2017)
Accessible Ticketing: Jonathan Brown, STAR (published Feb 2017)

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Get in touch

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enquiries@soltukt.co.uk

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"UK Theatre" is the operating name of UK Theatre Association, a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales, whose registered office is at 32 Rose Street, London, WC2E 9ET, Company No 323204.