Shakespeare’s Globe to commission safeguarding review

Shakespeare’s Globe has said it will commission an independent review into its accessibility and safeguarding policies after settling an employment dispute with a former associate artist.

Actor Athena Stevens, who began working as an associate artist on a freelance basis with the south London theatre in 2018, lodged six claims including discrimination arising from disability, harassment related to sex and victimisation after parting ways with the organisation in 2021.

According to reports in The Stage, Stevens, who has athetoid cerebral palsy, alleged the theatre treated her in a “hostile” way by failing to enquire about her health or make offers of support for her disability.

A statement available on the Globe’s website confirms the dispute is now settled, with both parties acknowledging “the importance of disabled staff and freelancers” and the need to “seek continuous improvement of conditions that support an inclusive workplace”. 

“With this in mind, and notwithstanding its confidence in existing working practices, the Globe will commission an independent review assessing accessibility and safeguarding policies, procedures and their interrelationship,” the statement adds. Athena will participate by giving evidence as part of the review.”

The Globe adds that it “is grateful to Athena for her commitment to improve the experience of disabled and vulnerable people in the arts sector including in her active engagement with them to resolve the issues in this dispute”.

The terms of the agreed settlement have not been released.