‘Gender inequality in theatre urgently needs to be addressed’, says new report

Led by Sphinx Theatre, University Women in the Arts and December Group, the Women in Theatre Forum Report calls for the urgent redress of gender inequality in theatre from the UK government, policy makers and arts organisations. 

The combined research also suggests that gender inequality in theatre, and the arts more generally, is likely to increase as a result of the coronavirus pandemic ‘unless specific measures are put in place’. 

Key findings were that women are under-represented and facing challenges which need to be addressed, with Sphinx finding that 31 per cent of artistic directors are female, while University Women in the Arts found 34 per cent of current or former female arts students had experienced sexism or gender bias at interviews. 

Other findings focused on attitudes towards women, which ‘need to be addressed’, as well as the need for transparency from organisations such as the Arts Council. The need for policy and arts organisation changes is also highlighted.

Based on the Women in Theatre Forum in Trafalgar Studios in 2020, the report pulls together recent research from the December Group, the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain, Equity, PIPA (Parents and Carers in Performing Arts), ERA 50:50, Black Womxn in Theatre and Stage Directors UK. 

University Women in the Arts was set up to improve the transitions for women from studying the arts to working in the arts. It previously found that over 70 per cent of arts students are female, but only around 30 per cent of many arts roles are female. 

A second report is to follow, which will cover evidence from the industry and recommendations from both reports, but the researchers now ‘urge policymakers and arts organisations to use a gender lens and gender-balanced teams to begin to address this research.’ 

Read the full report here.