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Sevenoaks Shakespeare Code of Conduct

Sevenoaks Shakespeare pride ourselves on our openness to everybody from all walks of life and being a friendly, welcoming and progressive theatre company. To that end, we expect everyone who works with us to be kind, compassionate, understanding, professional and treat everyone in the company with respect, whatever their involvement. No one should be made to feel uncomfortable whilst working with Sevenoaks Shakespeare and everyone involved is required to comply to the ethos and guidelines set out in our Code of Conduct below:

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Key principles

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  • We are committed to maintaining an environment free from discrimination, victimisation, harassment and bullying. This Code of Conduct sets out both the behaviour that we expect from our members and volunteers, and behaviour that is not acceptable and could lead to disciplinary action.

  • All volunteers and members must be respectful of the theatre’s premises (including hired rehearsal venues and performance spaces) and property. Please help to keep venues’ appearance clean, tidy and professional.

  • Volunteers and members are expected to be polite, courteous and respectful towards one another, to audience members and to our venue partners and to honour all commitments they have made to Sevenoaks Shakespeare.

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Discrimination

We aim to ensure that all members and volunteers who provide services to Sevenoaks Shakespeare receive equal treatment irrespective of:

  • Gender (including gender reassignment)

  • Marital or civil partnership status

  • Sexual orientation

  • Race, colour, ethnic or national origins

  • Religion or belief

  • Pregnancy

  • Disability

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All our casting decisions will be made without discrimination other than where there is a genuine requirement to do so for artistic reasons.

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There are two broad forms of discrimination under UK legislation: direct and indirect discrimination. Direct discrimination generally constitutes less favourable treatment because of one or more of the characteristics listed above.

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Indirect discrimination generally occurs where a provision, criterion or practice which may appear neutral and apply equally to all, in fact inadvertently puts a group of people who share one or more of the characteristics listed above at a disadvantage in comparison with others.

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Discrimination may also occur as a result of victimisation, harassment or bullying.

If you consider that you are disabled within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010 and that this prohibits or limits your involvement at Sevenoaks Shakespeare, please speak to any member of the Committee who will discuss with you whether there are any adjustments that could reasonably be made to our premises and/or facilities that would enable you to participate as you would like.

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Harassment

Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated by Sevenoaks Shakespeare.  Harassment generally consists of unwanted conduct (based on one or more of the above characteristics) which has the purpose or effect of:

  • violating a person’s dignity; and/or

  • creating an intimidating, hostile, unsafe, degrading or offensive environment.

It is irrelevant whether the alleged harassment is intentional or not.

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The following are examples of harassment. This list is intended as a guide and is not exhaustive:

  • Physical conduct – unwanted touching, patting, pinching, assault, coercion for sexual favours or physical threats;

  • Verbal conduct – unwelcome advances, critical nicknames, innuendo, insults or abusive language;

  • Non-verbal conduct – the display or sharing of pornographic or suggestive pictures, offensive or abusive gestures, objects or written material (other than in connection with a production for artistic purposes);

  • Bullying – offensive, intimidating, insulting, humiliating or demeaning behaviour which attempts to undermine an individual.

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Complaints Procedure

If you think you have been a victim of any form of discrimination, victimisation, harassment or bullying and would like to make a complaint, please follow our grievance procedure. You can see it on our website or if you would prefer a paper copy or just want to talk to someone first, please contact a member of the Committee.

Sevenoaks Shakespeare

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Date of Policy:- 12th November 2024

Reviewed:-  12th November 2024

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