Theatre needs CIISA more than ever

As the head of Bectu, a trade union which champions the needs of the creative industries workforce, I read with dismay – and perhaps little surprise – the latest findings from our survey on bullying and harassment in the sector.

We hear stories of bad behaviour so often, figures like ours can feel like just another set of grim statistics. But they are worth pausing over.

• 69% of women in the sector said they had directly experienced workplace bullying and harassment in the last 12 months. 72% of disabled workers and 63% of global majority workers said the same. 

• More than seven in ten creative industry workers said behaviours that would be considered toxic and inappropriate in public life are often tolerated in the creative industries – this increases to 76% of global majority respondents.  

• And more than six in ten creative workers (61%) have personally witnessed or experienced bullying or harassment in the workplace. Worryingly, around half do not report incidents – and many that do are unsatisfied with the response. 

Source: Bectu

This is not only wholly unacceptable; it poses an existential crisis for the future of our sector. All creative industries leaders must be able to look the workforce in the eye and be clear they are doing all they can to urgently address this problem.

The status quo is failing

The problem is persistent, current and impacts theatre workers as much as it does other parts of the sector – such as music, film and TV. While many high-profile exposés have focused on television personalities, in our survey rates of bullying and harassment for theatre workers were some of the highest reported.

The status quo is failing and will continue to fail, unless there is a properly backed and financially supported independent body. Theatre – and the wider arts sector – has the opportunity to make that a reality by fully supporting the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority.

Bectu has supported CIISA’s development from the beginning and we remain greatly encouraged by the robust legal and technical thinking behind it. Its board, chaired by Baroness Kennedy KC, brings the wealth of experience necessary to lay strong foundations for such an important organisation, one that we at Bectu among many others are proud to support.

Although times are financially difficult, parts of the sector are posting record profits, but long-term support for CIISA remains inconsistent. The potential long-term economic gain from taking collective action is significant – especially when you consider the current cost of workplace conflict in the creative industries has been measured at £1.8bn a year.

Support is inconsistent

I am pleased that lots of theatres have supported the development of CIISA’s standards and have been trailblazers for the body, recognising the unique challenges for the sector where so many organisations engage freelancers on project-based work. 

But full and ongoing support is by no means consistent. Culture Minister Lisa Nandy has also recently expressed her dismay with organisations who have not yet engaged with or signed up to CIISA, a commitment which would allow it to move more quickly into being fully operational and provide the services that would benefit freelancers and the creative ecosystem as a whole.

Behind the statistics of our most recent survey are thousands of stories of freelance workers who live in fear because of the power – and often impunity – of many in the creative sector.

The industry needs the courage to take this seriously

Do we need to wait for another scandal, and more statistics, before the industry collectively admits there is a problem and that doing things the same way we’ve always done them won’t work?

Source: Bectu

Fewer than four in ten creative industry workers told us that feel fully supported by their employer or engager. No matter how much companies may tout the robustness of their reporting mechanisms and publicise their commitment to inclusive workplace cultures, our survey results say otherwise.

If employers mean to take seriously the needs of their workforce, the numbers couldn’t be clearer – a huge 85% of all survey respondents said they would support the launch of an independent body to which they could report bullying, harassment and sexual harassment.

So, while Bectu’s Big Survey may feel like just another set of statistics, I hope this marks a moment when the industry has the courage to take this issue seriously. I applaud those who have stood up and, recognising there is a problem, have committed to doing something about it. I urge others to follow.

Bectu’s Big Survey is the largest survey of behind-the-scenes creative industry workers. Conducted between February and March 2025, it gathered responses from 5,597 individuals across the UK’s creative industries.