Bromley Players Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Policy

At Bromley Players, we believe that the vibrant tapestry of south London’s communities should be reflected on our stage and within our society. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome, valued, and empowered to participate. This Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Policy outlines our commitment to ensuring fair access, diverse representation, and the celebration of all voices within our society. We recognise that true diversity encompasses all protected characteristics and lived experiences, and we are dedicated to addressing intersectionality in all our practices.

Our Commitment to Diverse Voices and Representation

We are committed to actively promoting diverse voices and representation in all aspects of our work.
● Diverse Show Selection: We aim to include plays and musicals that tell diverse stories, represent diverse characters, and explore a broad range of human experiences. This includes, but is not limited to, works written by and telling the stories of the global majority, LGBTQIA+ narratives, disability representation and productions that allow space for exciting, new interpretations.
● Celebrating LGBTQIA+ Voices: We will actively support and promote LGBTQIA+ voices and talent, including through dedicated events such as Pride concerts, and ensuring LGBTQIA+ representation in our casting and creative teams.
● Disability Representation: We are committed to increasing disability representation both on and off stage. This includes actively encouraging actors with disabilities to audition, considering accessibility in our rehearsal and performance spaces, and exploring narratives that authentically portray the experiences of disabled individuals.
● Intersectionality: We understand that individuals hold multiple identities that intersect to create unique experiences of both privilege and marginalisation. Our commitment to diversity extends to recognizing and addressing these intersecting identities in all our practices, ensuring that our efforts benefit individuals from all backgrounds. We will strive for representation that reflects the multi-faceted nature of our community.

Fair Casting and Inclusive Audition Practices

We are dedicated to ensuring that our casting processes are fair, transparent, and actively promote diversity.

Equitable Casting Policy:

Bromley Players upholds the principle that the best person for the role should get the part. Our updated casting policy ensures that all roles will be considered equitably, taking into account the unique talents and perspectives that a diverse cast can bring to a production. We will move beyond “colour-blind” casting to actively embrace and celebrate the diversity of our performers. This means:
○ We will audition and cast based on merit and suitability for the role, recognising that diversity in casting enriches the artistic quality and audience experience.
○ Ethnicity, gender identity, disability, and other aspects of an individual’s identity will be considered as potential assets to a role, rather than neutral factors, unless the narrative of the show explicitly requires a specific demographic for authenticity. This also extends to casting family members within a show.
● Production Team Awareness: All production team members (directors, musical directors, choreographers, etc.) will be made aware of this Equitable Casting Policy and agree to abide by it prior to their appointment. The full policy will be readily available on our website.
● Inclusive Audition Notices: Our audition notices will prominently feature statements regarding the encouragement of auditionees from diverse and marginalised backgrounds.
● Character Descriptions: Character descriptions provided at pre-production meetings and on our website will explicitly state that “all of the above roles are able to be played by performers of any ethnicity or gender identity. Disabled performers will be supported by the production team with any necessary adaptations or reasonable adjustments that are required.” The only exception will be if a character’s ethnicity, gender or disability presentation is unequivocally integral and fundamental to the narrative of the show.
● Broadening Advertisement: Bromley Players will actively review and improve the means by which auditions are advertised. We will explore new communication channels and partnerships to reach a wider, more diverse range of communities across London, ensuring our opportunities are visible and accessible to all.

Monitoring, Feedback, and Accountability
Transparency and continuous improvement are central to our EDI commitments.
● Equality Monitoring: All current and new members of Bromley Players will be invited to complete a voluntary and anonymous equality questionnaire. This data will establish a baseline for our membership’s diversity. At each Annual General Meeting (AGM), we will detail this breakdown to ensure transparency and enable the membership to hold the committee accountable for progress. If agreed at the AGM, this will start with the show that follows most closely to agreement.
● Feedback Mechanism: Our anonymous feedback forms, distributed at the end of each show, will now include specific questions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, actively encouraging responses on these points. These forms will be thoroughly considered by the committee, with specific attention given to diversity-related feedback in our membership reports.
● Production Team Contracts: Agreement to the policy will also be outlined in production team contracts.
● Policy Review and Approval: This comprehensive EDI Policy will be submitted to the membership for approval at the next AGM. It will be reviewed annually to ensure its continued relevance and effectiveness.

Bromley Players Spotlight Fund
The Bromley Players Spotlight Fund is a new initiative designed to improve participation and remove financial barriers for individuals who wish to join our society. Through generous donations, this fund will provide bursaries and funded places, ensuring that talent and passion, rather than financial circumstances, determine involvement.
● Accessibility of Donations: We will make donating to the Spotlight Fund as accessible as
possible through:
○ A dedicated online donation page on our website.
○ QR codes included in all show programmes.

● Dedicated Contact: A designated contact from Bromley Players will manage and track all Spotlight Fund inquiries and donations, ensuring transparency and accountability for contributors.
● Fund Policy: A clear policy will be drafted to outline the specific uses of the Spotlight Fund, the criteria for accessing bursaries and funded places, and the application process. This policy will be publicly available on our website