Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Statement
The Improvathon is an annual 50-hour improvisation event that takes place across one weekend annually. It is organised by the management team of Showstopper Productions Ltd.
The Improvathon brings together improvisers, musicians, actors, comedians and theatre-makers from the UK and from all over the world. It is largely a voluntary event, initially created by a group of friends and colleagues to celebrate the artform form of longform improvisation. The management aims for the show to be representative of all sections of society and we are committed to promoting and encouraging diversity, equity and inclusion amongst everyone involved so that they feel respected and able to give their best.Â
In order to achieve this, the management undertakes to ensure that all company members, employees, participants and audience members across the range of company activities are treated equitably and encouraged to develop and maximise their true potential irrespective of age, disability, gender including transgender, HIV/AIDS status, marital status including civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity, political opinion, race, ethnicity, religion and belief, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, spent convictions, trade union activity or membership, work pattern on the basis of having or not having dependants, medical conditions, access needs, or on any other grounds which are irrelevant to decision-making.
We do not tolerate discrimination against any of the Improvathon company members, freelancers, participants or audience members. We recognise discrimination as being both systemic and interpersonal, which includes a process of acting unfairly against an individual or group by exclusion, verbal comment, denigration, failure to appreciate needs or the assumption of such needs without consultation.
The management team will monitor and review this Diversity, Equity and Inclusion statement on an annual basis as well as specific action plans and policies as this work continues. Each member of the company will be given a copy of our Code of Practice and has responsibility for their own compliance.
Accountability
The leadership are committed to providing an environment for the Improvathon where everyone can bring their best work. We believe and expect that everyone comes to the event with the best of intentions; to take part safely and to collaborate to build a show and create a world together for a weekend. We acknowledge that sometimes we all make mistakes and misstep. We further acknowledge that the potential for human error on stage is greater in the context of an improvised show. We believe that taking creative risks is important in the pursuit of artistic excellence and that it is important for us to have good communication, to support each other and to be supported as we challenge ourselves. We are all accountable individually for our choices, and collectively as a company, and as a team – onstage and backstage – we commit to learning from our mistakes when they happen and continuing to work on our areas of ignorance as we move forward.
Russell Clare Associates
Showstopper Productions Ltd began working with Carol Russell of Russell Clare Associates on our DEI work in 2021. The work extends to the Improvathon project. RCA is a training and consulting practice working to ensure that inclusion – particularly around ethnicity – is at the heart of creative companies’ daily practice, as well as their longterm strategy.
We have signed up to their Confidential Call-Out reporting service should any member of the Improvathon company prefer to report any concerns to an independent third party rather than a member of the management team.