Introduction

Spectrum believes that to create theatre, you must have an environment that is based on trust, cooperation, compromise, and most importantly, respect.

As such, this Code of Conduct highlights Spectrum Theatre’s expectations on how members, performers, crew members and other volunteers conduct themselves whilst involved with the theatre, so that we can create a safe environment where everyone is able to thrive and participate.

By being involved with Spectrum Theatre, you agree to comply with Spectrum Theatre’s Code of Conduct as outlined in this document.

Dignity, courtesy, and respect.

A safe environment is created by treating each other with dignity, courtesy, and respect.

• Every single person involved in a production, whether they be part of the front-of-house team, the crew, or the cast, has an important role to play, and therefore deserves dignity, courtesy, and respect.
• Our patrons and audiences are also just as important, and therefore deserve dignity, courtesy, and respect.
• An individual has a right to privacy and confidentiality, unless doing so would put their, or somebody else’s safety at risk.
• Dignity, courtesy, and respect must be given regardless of an individual’s gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, cultural background or religion, age, physical or psychological disabilities, or neurodivergence.

Unacceptable behaviours

• Abuse or threaten to abuse (verbally, physically, or in writing) another person.
• Physically or sexually assault another person.
• Intimidate, threaten, or harass another person.
• Sexually harass another person with unwanted, unwelcome, or uninvited behaviour.
• Bully, isolate or humiliate another person.
• Discriminate or unfavourably treat someone because of their gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, cultural background or religion, age, physical or psychological disabilities, or neurodivergence.
• Victimise, unjustly treat, or threaten someone because they have raised a complaint, or are a witness to a situation in which a complaint has been raised.

Professionalism within the production

Although Spectrum Theatre is a community organisation, we still aim and aspire towards the same professional standards as any other theatre company.

As such, it is important to recognise that although each individual plays an equally important part within a production, there are also established roles within the theatre space that should also be mutually respected.  

All cast, crew, and front-of-house crew are expected to:

• Treat crew members, front-of-house crew, performers, and audience members with dignity, courtesy, and respect;
• To behave professionally;
• To listen to, and take onboard, constructive feedback;
• To treat the theatre space with respect.

Performers are expected to:

• To listen to their director(s), and to pay attention when they speak;
• To accept decisions and directives made by directors, so long as they are reasonable, and don’t place their physical and mental safety and wellbeing at risk;
• To listen to other members of the production crew, to pay attention when they speak, and to accept decisions and directives issued by the production crew so long as they are reasonable, and don’t place their physical and mental safety and wellbeing at risk;
• To commit to set rehearsal times, and also to any additional rehearsals, so long as they are reasonable and given with notice;
• To commit to learning lines and stage blockings to the best of their ability;
• To arrive at the theatre ahead of performances at the time requested by the director(s), so that costume, make-up and hair can be done in a timely manner, and to ensure any other preparations for a performance are completed;

Directors are expected to:

• Be responsible for the directing of the play, by working with the cast and crew to produce a show of a professional standard;
• To work with other members of the crew, and the committee, to promote their productions;
• To ensure all members of the cast and crew are rehearsing and performing in a safe, hazard-free environment, by listening to any concerns of their production crew and performers, and to work cooperatively to actively search for solutions;
• To model the professional standards expected by Spectrum Theatre for the production crew, performers and front-of-house crew;
• To handle any conflicts within the cast and crew professionally, and to find a way to resolve conflicts effectively;
• To manage the production budget responsibly and transparently;
• To keep the committee updated with the progress of shows, to report any health and safety hazards or issues, and to ensure the committee are aware of any major conflicts within the performance and the actions they have taken.

Crew Members

• Are to listen to the decisions and directives of the director(s), unless it places their, or anybody else’s, safety or wellbeing at risk;
• Are to work with the director(s) collaboratively to ensure productions are to a high, professional standard, and to ensure performers are in a safe and respectful environment;
• To ensure that their roles and responsibilities, to the best of their ability, within the theatre space are carried out to a high, professional standard;
• To work with other members of the crew to provide support when necessary;
• Not to interfere with the roles of other crew members unnecessarily.

Front-of-House Crew:

• To ensure the venue is clean and presentable for audience members;
• To ensure that audience members feel welcomed, and to treat audience members with courtesy, respect, and dignity;
• To accommodate the needs and requests of audience members to the best of their ability, and as long as they are reasonable;
• To handle complaints from audience members in a professional and understanding manner, and to find, to the best of their ability, solutions;
• To appear approachable for audience members;
• To assist, if they are able, audience members that might require assistance (e.g. with stairs, accessible seats);
• If they are able, to help cast and crew with any reasonable requests before, during, or after a performance.

Committee Members:

• To model the professional standards, expectations and behaviours that are expected of those involved in a production;
• To work with the director(s) collaboratively to ensure that productions are promoted, and to a high standard suitable for a paying audience;
• Not to impede and intervene unnecessarily in a production, unless there is a legitimate reason (such as a breakdown in communication between the director(s) and their cast and/or crew);
• To, in the event of issues facing a production, work collaboratively to find solutions to ensure a production can go ahead;
• To work within the committee to have an informal and productive committee presence during rehearsals – without it being overbearing or unnecessary – so that production members and director(s) feel supported, and the committee approachable; ideally, for a committee member to be valuable part of the production process, or available to help if needed;
• To respect the role of the director(s) within a production, and not to undermine them in the presence of the cast and crew of a production;
• Not to mislead the director(s), production crew, front of house crew, or performers.

Respecting the theatre space

It is incredibly important for everybody involved with Spectrum Theatre to respect the theatre space. Our venue is incredibly precious and just as important.

As such, you must:

• Place all your rubbish in the relevant bins;
• Wash and clean any crockery or cutlery that you use;
• Not to damage the walls, floors, appliances, costumes, or furniture, and to treat them with respect;
• Not to use any theatre equipment unless told;
• To respect theatre property, and also the property of others;
• To alert directors, committee members, or crew members to any safety hazards you may come across;
• To pay for any drinks or snacks you consume, and to pay off any outstanding IOUs in a timely manner (unless you have been given permission otherwise by a director or committee member).

Conflicts and Complaints

It is an unfortunate reality within any space that conflicts and personality clashes are bound to take place. However, all members of Spectrum Theatre are expected to try and resolve issues in the spirit of good-will, and with the aim of treating others, regardless of conflict or clashes, with dignity, courtesy, and respect. Sometimes, that may mean agreeing to limit your interactions to those required within a performance.

In the event where conflicts are easily resolved, there is a process available to try and mediate conflicts, and to handle any complaints you may have.

In a production, your first port of call should be your director(s). The director(s) will work to mediate any problems and to find pragmatic solutions. If this is not possible, the director(s) may then choose to approach the committee for help.

In the case of a conflict taking place between individual(s) and their director(s) – or in a situation where the complainant feels they cannot approach their director(s) –  then the Committee of Management (contact details are available in the kitchen and the Green Room) should be contacted.

Directors and members of the committee handling complaints must respect the privacy and confidentiality of the complainant, and to handle any confidentiality of anyone else involved unless doing so places anybody’s safety in jeopardy.

The Committee of Management will handle and discuss complaints, and then work together, and with involved parties, to find pragmatic solutions.