Equality, diversity and inclusion
Equality, diversity and inclusion are central elements of Gecko’s essence, supporting our vision of deepening human connection through physical, visual, visceral and ambitious performance and participation. Our shows and films explore themes relevant to the society in which we live and our devising process draws on the lived experience of our international ensemble.
Where English is not their first language, our performers use their mother-tongue with the use of breath and emotion as a shared human language. Our work, therefore, does not rely upon a knowledge of English or other languages. It is instead accessible on multiple levels - sonically, visually, emotionally – inviting audiences to create their own understanding of the story and allowing for interpretation that is relevant to their own lives, experiences and locality, instilling an emotional response to the work.
We recognise the importance of striving to improve and affect change. By prioritising equality, diversity and inclusion, we will not only become a more effective business, but we will ensure that our work and engagement is for the benefit of all, building closer connections with our communities, particularly those that are currently underserved, and strengthening our relevance to the people, partners and practitioners who we work with.
Our actions and commitments
Sound World information sheets are available for our most recent theatre shows, supporting d/Deaf audience members to explore the soundscape of each show and how it feeds into the other elements of our performances. We also provide additional support and engagement for this audience through captioned/BSL post show discussions.
We are in the process of researching audio description formats that will not only support but enrich the Gecko experience for visually impaired audiences.
We consider accessibility in our design and communications, such as following the WCAG 2.1 guidelines for colour ratios and text sizes.
We have adopted the Anti-Racism Touring Rider as an important statement of intent. The Anti-Racism Touring Rider was created in spring 2021 to establish a baseline of expectations between companies, venues and artists on a touring production. As an organisation, we have made a commitment to meet the baselines of the rider and we will work with colleagues from across the industry to implement this over the next 2 years. This includes:
Offering anti-racism training to our core team and freelancers.
Providing venues with a Company Pack that includes headshots and phonetic spellings of all touring company members’ names, and whether English is their second language.
Providing a contact person within the company for support, and signposting to external professionals where needed.
Considering the implications of stereotypes when choosing images and text for marketing, and to seek broader, diverse feedback to support the process.
In autumn 2022 we will premiere a new mid-scale production that explores themes of migration, nationalism and racism with a diverse ensemble that reflects and has lived experience of these themes.
We’re always looking to improve our practises. If you have any questions or ideas, please contact info@geckotheatre.com.