This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

A silent demonstration in support of change in the theatre industry amid widespread allegations of sexual misconduct has taken place at the National Theatre in London.

Organisers described the event on Saturday as a “simple performance action” that aimed to promote “visibility, solidarity, and responsibility” in the industry and called for “no more grey areas”.

Those attending were asked to wear black and white clothing and were provided with white ribbons to wear as “as a form of protest and solidarity”.

The “no grey area” gathering walked in silence around the National Theatre seven times, with demonstrators encouraged to bring signs and placards.

The protest comes after allegations against the Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein triggered a wave of similar accusations against figures across the entertainment industry.

The event was organised by actors Nastazja Somers and Laura Hopwood, supported by the National Theatre.



Hopwood told the Guardian: “It’s about solidarity and visibility – solidarity with all those people who have spoken out and those who can’t speak or have chosen not to.

“Visibility is about showing we want change. Every women I know has some kind of experience where they have experienced that abuse of power or that ‘grey area’.

“It’s also about responsibility. We all have responsibility in different ways to try and create standard of respect.”

Among theatre figures caught up in the ongoing scandal is the actor Kevin Spacey. The Old Vic theatre apologised for not creating an environment where people could raise concerns about Spacey after receiving 20 individual allegations of inappropriate behaviour by the actor.

The theatre said 14 of the allegations were so serious that it had advised complainants to take up the matter with police.

An investigation into the conduct of Spacey during his 11 years at the Old Vic has concluded that the actor’s star power, which the theatre described as a “cult of personality”, contributed to failings at the organisation.

Earlier this month the Royal Court theatre published a theatre industry code of behaviour to prevent sexual harassment and abuses of power.

It said the code should be seen as “an offering, a provocation, a hope for culture change” after the blizzard of disturbing abuse allegations that have followed the exposure of Weinstein.

The code has been drawn up by a team led by Royal Court artistic director, Vicky Featherstone, and follows a day of action where 150 testimonies were read out.