About Equity in Theatre
AS OF 2018, EQUITY IN THEATRE IS NO LONGER A FUNCTIONING ENTITY, AS THE GROUP COMPLETED THE FOUR-PRONGED INITIATIVE IT INTENDED.
EIT'S PARTNERS ARE CONTINUING TO PURSUE EQUITY INITIATIVES OF THEIR OWN, SO PLEASE CONTACT ANY OF THE ART SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS LISTED BELOW FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, POSSIBLE PROJECTS, OR PARTNERSHIPS.
THE EIT WEBSITE WILL REMAIN ONLINE FOR SOME TIME AS A LEGACY DOCUMENT.
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The underrepresentation of women in theatre in key creative positions is a systemic and ongoing problem. Though there have been incremental increases in the past 35 years, women - especially Indigenous women and women of colour - are still crucially underrepresented in major artistic roles in Canadian theatre, with recent data showing regression in some instances.
Equity in Theatre (EIT) was a multi-stakeholder initiative aiming to remedy existing gender and related inequities in the theatre industry. Through a multi-pronged and inclusive response that involved the community as a whole (artists, stakeholders, and audiences), we promoted dialogue, generated greater awareness of and exposure to women theatre practitioners, and developed community-based action plans to help fix industry imbalances.
Led by Rebecca Burton, PGC’s Membership and Contracts Manager, and Laine Zisman Newman, Dramaturgical Associate with Pat the Dog Theatre Creation, EIT launched in 2014-15 with four different components: a preparatory research study, a Symposium held in Toronto in April 2015, a website dedicated to Canadian women in theatre, and live performance events, including play readings, social actions, and more.
Equity in Theatre was run out of Playwrights Guild of Canada in partnership with Artists Driving Holistic Organizational Change, Associated Designers of Canada, Canadian Actors’ Equity Association, Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario, Deaf, Disability and Mad Arts Alliance of Canada, Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance, Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (Canada), Pat the Dog Theatre Creation, and the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres. Learn more about our partners and sponsors here.
With this initiative, the EIT team hoped to foster dialogue on an (inter)national scale, develop social actions to help effect change, and generate greater awareness of and exposure to Canadian women in theatre, all the while drawing attention to the systemic discrimination that permeates the industry still.
EIT was made possible by the generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Ontario Trillium Foundation.