Theatre staff continue to endure aggression and harassment from audiences, highlighting deep concerns about workplace culture and wellbeing across the sector.
Bectu’s Big Survey, which drew on responses from more than 5,500 creative workers earlier this year, found that around one in three people working in theatre and live events had been subjected to anti-social behaviour, violence or harassment from audiences in the past 12 months. Front of house staff were most exposed, with more than three quarters (77 per cent) reporting such incidents.
The findings suggest little has changed since Bectu first raised the issue two years ago. In fact, audience behaviour appears to be worsening: most theatre workers (71 per cent) said standards have declined over the past five years.
Philippa Childs, head of Bectu, said the figures should act as a wake-up call for the industry.
“Across the country, people are facing regular aggression and abuse simply for carrying out their jobs,” Childs said. “This is wholly unacceptable and we urge venues and industry bodies to commit to working with us to tackle this endemic issue.”
The problem goes beyond customer behaviour. Bectu’s survey also paints a troubling picture of workplace wellbeing in the creative industries more broadly. Only one in five workers (20 per cent) feel secure in their jobs, dropping to 13 per cent among freelancers. Two-thirds (66 per cent) said they are struggling financially, while more than a quarter reported working weeks that exceed 48 hours – in breach of EU working time guidelines.
Childs warned that such conditions are compounding the skills crisis already facing the sector.
“Everyone has the right to a safe and respectful workplace. With the sector facing a chronic skills shortage, our findings should sound alarm bells. We are calling on theatres to have a zero-tolerance approach to bad behaviour and ensure security is sufficient to deal with the problem.”
Bectu has urged theatres to review workplace policies on bullying and harassment, adopt stronger security measures, and consider limits on at-seat alcohol sales, which may be contributing to poor audience behaviour.
The union says urgent action is needed to protect the wellbeing of staff and strengthen workplace culture at a time when recruitment and retention are already under strain. The full executive summary of Bectu’s Big Survey is available at bectu.org.uk/bectu-big-survey-hub
