Our Charter
Fourth Monkey was founded with a vision and goal of creating a world ignited by visceral and diverse voices, sharing untold and unheard stories through bold, collaborative and revolutionary theatre productions and actor training.
As a school, and as part of this vision, we are committed to ensuring Fourth Monkey is a place to celebrate connection, diversity in its all forms, the environment and each other.
You either have to change people’s minds before you change their hearts – in which case, educate. Or you have to change people’s hearts before you change their minds – in which case, let them see you.
Racial prejudice, discrimination and exclusion in any form, is and has always been a problem for all of us. It is incumbent on all of us to radically transform the world in which we live in order for us all to thrive.
Charleen Qwaye, Director of Training & Actor
This means ensuring the school and its training are as inclusive and accessible as possible, and that the Fourth Monkey community of practitioners, students and alumni are constantly engaging in a wider conversation around diversity and inclusivity, so that we can continue to learn, grow and push to do more for positive change as an actor training company and as individuals within this community.
This charter sets out Fourth Monkey’s commitments to that. As an organisation, alongside our community of staff, students and alumni, we will continue to:
- work toward a genuinely inclusive and accessible arts sector for all
- offer a decolonised curriciulum
- celebrate diversity in all its forms; in our performance, teaching and ethos
- study and celebrate the work of diverse writers and their contemporaries across the globe
- charge no audition fees to any applicant to our Drama School in London or Bristol
- offer free, nationwide participation workshops in schools, colleges and youth theatres
- offer part or fully funded scholarships for students who need them most each year
- participate in London Pride alongside our students each year, celebrating the diversity which makes our industry so special
- collaborate and develop projects which celebrate unheard voices and untold stories with partner charities
We will continue to engage in conversation. We will continue to learn. We will continue to grow and we will never stop doing more.
Accessibility, Equality & Diversity Statement
Fourth Monkey is committed to creating an environment where every individual who comes through our doors is seen, heard and celebrated. We are committed to ensuring that this approach is the bedrock of every aspect of our work encompassing auditions, outreach, actor training and the Fourth Monkey Ensemble, and that all practitioners, directors, creatives and staff are included in this approach and aligned in our thinking.
We are dedicated to creating a learning environment which celebrates diversity, strives for inclusive excellence and embeds equal opportunity for all our staff, students, creatives and participants alike, regardless of ethnicity, gender, disability (including underlying health issues, mental health issues and additional learning needs), age, socioeconomic background, sexual orientation and / or religion. Fourth Monkey also actively encourage collaboration and contact from those with protected characteristics in the planning, monitoring and evaluation of Fourth Monkey provisions.
Fourth Monkey does not discriminate on any grounds. We are committed to removing potential barriers, offering tailored support and making reasonable adjustments for our auditions, workshops and training based solely on an individual’s need, in order to ensure that every opportunity is provided for everyone to fully access and successfully complete all aspects of Fourth Monkey provision. Everyone is encouraged to be bold and play and everyone has equal opportunity to thrive and excel.
Fourth Monkey aim to be an innovative industry leader on this matter and to ensure that we always exceed any and all legislative obligations. This, like our approach to actor training is a collaborative effort and a collective responsibility which is intrinsic in the way in which we think and work, represented throughout the Fourth Monkey community and congruent across all of our policies, procedures and working practices.
Participation
We offer practical support, raise aspiration and present viable routes for those wishing to access our courses, who may not have the opportunity to experience professional training or to consider the creative performance industry as a career choice; especially those from unconventional or non-academic backgrounds who are looking to access Higher Education and Professional Actor Training. Our free schools participation workshops are at the heart of our commitment to making training accessible to all.
Diversity
We celebrate individuality and believe that there is strength in diversity. We welcome all people equally, on, behind and in front of the stage. The power of theatre is rooted in the diversity of story, thought and creative process, and we actively encourage students from diverse backgrounds to join our community and celebrate their own unique stories. We will not tolerate discrimination because of someone’s disability, religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity in any form.
Disability Access
We aim to provide, and constantly improve on, accessible infrastructure and services, delivered in a way that respects the needs of each individual and does not exclude anyone.
Mental Health
We are an advocate for #TIME4CHANGE, a movement started to raise awareness in the performing arts sector about mental health issues and the stigma surrounding it. Fourth Monkey is proud to support and actively promote mental health awareness for our students.
Safe Space
As part of Equity’s Safe Spaces campaign, Fourth Monkey believes every single one of us has the right to work in a safe space; free of fear, prejudice, bullying and harassment. We will treat one another with respect, politeness, generosity and patience at all times and if we are subjected to or witness mistreatment of any kind, we will speak out knowing that our voices will be heard. Together we create a Safe Space and a rich working environment. We create our space. Each one of us is essential.
Environment
We acknowledge the impact that our business has on the environment, are committed both to telling the truth about the scale of the climate and ecological emergency, and to taking action.
Our main impact areas are transport and energy, as well as waste and water. Fourth Monkey’s environmental impact areas are being fully assessed in the context of their impact on, and the contribution to reaching the relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Accessibility, Equality & Diversity Resources
For anyone now wondering where to start or how to educate themselves in order to be better equipped to listen, support and act as part of this ongoing conversation surrounding diversity, equality and inclusivity, we have begun to compile a list of resources to download should you wish.
