Increase in women in creative roles at theatres

MORE women are working in creative roles in subsidised theatres in Scotland than five years ago, a new study has suggested.

The research from award-winning theatre company Stellar Quines and Christine Hamilton Consulting shows an increase in the proportion of females in these positions in 2019-20 compared with 2014-15.

Women accounted for 48 per cent of creative roles across all categories in 2019-20 compared with 39% in 2014-15, while 54% of theatre companies had females in artistic leadership roles compared with 38% previously, according to the study.

It found more than half (52%) of performers in 2019-20 were women, up from 46% five years earlier, while 48% of directors and 41% of commissioned playwrights were females, compared with 47% and 39% previously.

It is the second part of the Where Are The Women? report with Ms Hamilton’s initial findings published in 2016.

She said: “Real progress has been made on equality of opportunity for women in Scottish theatre.

“The task now is to sustain these gains and build on where we are today – 51% of the population is female.

“However, we cannot ignore the difficulties facing women from minorities who make up this 51%.

“That’s the challenge that still faces us.”