DEI Policy

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Showstopper is a company of musicians, actors, improvisers, comedians and playwrights who come together to create instant musicals. Our work takes us on tour around the UK and internationally, into corporate entertainment, private events and London’s West End. The nature of our work means that we work with, present to, perform to and teach many people from a range of different backgrounds. Showstopper Productions Ltd aims to be representative of all sections of society and is committed to promoting and encouraging diversity, equity and inclusion among everyone we work with so that they feel respected and able to give their best. 

In order to achieve this, Showstopper Productions Ltd 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.

Showstopper Productions Ltd does not tolerate discrimination against any of our company members, employees, 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 directors and management of Showstopper Productions Ltd 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 the company’s up-to-date policies and associated action plans and has responsibility for their own compliance.

Accountability

As a company we are committed to providing space where everyone can bring their best work. We believe and expect that everyone comes to work with the best of intentions, to share this space safely and to collaborate together to build shows that are greater than the sum of their parts. 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 between ourselves 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. 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 company member prefer to report any concerns to an independent third party rather than a member of the management team.