We don’t do enough to talk about consent, particularly sexual consent, in the context of the theater. Sean Douglass wrote this excellent piece for the CFR that lays bare much of the issue. In summary:
On June 8, the Chicago Reader printed a lengthy investigation by Aimee Levitt and Christopher Piatt exposing a history of emotional and physical abuse at the acclaimed storefront company Profiles Theatre. The treatment, according to the article, was primarily at the hands of co-Artistic Director Darrell W. Cox, whose alleged aggressive behavior, sexual harassment and refusal to follow safety precautions for fight choreography led to an often-unsafe work environment for more than 30 former cast and crew members who were interviewed.
In reading both Douglass’s response and the original article in the Chicago Reader detailing the abuse, I recognized that we, the theater industry, have no idea how to talk about consent when dealing with difficult or explicit work. If we approached actual sexual activity with the same mindset with which we approach “artistic” sexual activity, we’d all be considered rapists.
That’s a bold statement. Here’s why I’m making it.
Read more at The Clyde Fitch Report