Irish theatre world to tackle gender discrimination with new policies

Top theatre companies will “grasp the nettle” of gender discrimination by ensuring workers are fully protected from unwanted advances, and guaranteeing half of all new plays are written by women.

In response to a series of scandals in the sector, the Gate, the Abbey, the Lir Academy, the Everyman, Fishamble, and a number of other theatre companies signed up to the new deal yesterday at the launch of a key report into structural and management problems in the performing arts.

In response to revelations concerning former Gate theatre director Michael Colgan and wider gender discrimination allegations, the leading lights of Ireland’s arts world came together last year to help address the wide-reaching crisis.