Former staff reject email offer by Gate

A number of women who allege they have been the victims of “abuse of power” at the hands of former Gate Theatre director Michael Colgan have said they will not avail of a confidential email address offered by the theatre to detail their experiences.

The women say they do not have confidence in the impartiality of the theatre’s current board.

The Arts Council said it “welcomed” the fact that allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour are being discussed openly across the wider arts sector in the wake of the claims about Mr Colgan. It said it is committed to a culture of respect, dignity, fairness, and equality in the workplace and expected all organisations it funded to respect and uphold the law in that regard.