New policy will ensure artists feel safe on and off the stage

A new policy on intimate choreography could provide a safer work environment for actors and actresses.

Theatre Northwest has created a first draft of the policy after communicating with other theatres across Canada.

Marnie Hamagami, Theatre Northwest General Manager, says this is a way for them to be proactive.

“We have been doing a lot of the things in the policy without really having to codify them before, so, we’re very concious of the difficulties in that choreography and we’ve been aware of that. As a result we haven’t had any problems brought to our attention.”

This was created in collaboration with CNC’s Human Resources Management Post-Diploma practicum student, Caitlyn Soder, to help smaller organizations who don’t have their own HR department, make sure people are being treated properly.

“Obviously in theatre, people are going to be in intimate, emotional, spiritual, psychological, physical contact with each other,” says Jack Grinhaus, Artistic Director. So, having safety measures in place allows people to explore and create and at the same time understand that they need too respect boundaries that exist.”

Grinhaus added, on stage you’re given permission to use certain language, but off stage that same rule doesn’t apply, so this policy will help people understand the difference.

The theatre is hoping the final draft will be approved by the time the 2018 September season starts.