Women’s Theatre Collective

Including Valkyrie Theatre Company

Code of Conduct

WTC/VTC is committed to maintaining an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome and safe regardless of their age, race or ethnicity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, or other characteristics that make our participants and patrons unique. We expect all our participants and patrons to conduct themselves in ways that support this commitment, and to treat everyone with respect.

We follow the below core values:

Core Values

● Courage

● Kindness

● Responsibility

● Altruism

● Respect

● Compassion

● Integrity

We are committed to:

● Providing a healthy and respectful work environment for everyone involved in bringing our mission to life.

● Providing a firm foundation for the creativity and fun, which characterizes all of our productions and activities.

● Creating a safe and supportive environment for people to share their concerns and experiences.

● Understanding and upholding reporting standards and guidelines for employees, volunteers, and guests.

The following are guiding principles for conduct expected from all WTC/VTC participants. While we cannot address every issue or provide answers to every dilemma, these principles define the spirit in which we intend to do business and should guide us in our daily conduct.

Participants agree to (Please check each box):

Show respect for others: Participants will respect the rights and feelings of the other participants. Fighting, bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, name-calling, intimidation, bigotry of any kind, inappropriate language or any other form of emotional or physical abuse or unwanted conduct directed to one another, directors, or volunteers will not be tolerated.

Maintain a professional focus: Participants are expected to pay attention to and follow the Directors so that they can get the most out of their time here. Disruptive, distracting, or problematic behavior that affects the learning environment will not be tolerated. Cell phones or electronic games must remain off/on silent and put away during classes, rehearsals, or performances.

Respect our company: Participants will respect the company’s facilities or rental facilities that the company is responsible for, as well as costumes, props, sets, and all other company property. They will pick up after themselves and work to keep the theatre and rehearsal space clean.

Be on time: Show up to rehearsals, classes, and performances on time and ready to work with all necessary props, costumes, notes, or scripts. Please let your stage manager know ahead of time if you need to be late.

Not leave until dismissed: Participants will not leave during a class, show, or rehearsal until excused by a director or when the directors dismiss the group. Please let your stage manager know in advance if you need to leave early.

Maintain respectful and positive social media interaction: Participants will not engage in social media communications that are of critical, negative, or bullying nature of fellow cast members, the company, or its directors or volunteers, and will refrain from posting video or audio content that violates licensing rights.

Abstain from abusive or offensive language: Participants will be mindful of language used towards or in the proximity of any patron or other participant. This may include interaction beyond the company property and will be handled at the discretion of the director or board.

If participant is a minor, the family agrees to (Please check each box):

Pay all fees promptly and complete, sign and return all relevant forms by the following week (contact details, medical, conflicts, code of conduct). Inform Valkyrie Theatre Company immediately if there are any changes to any of these.

See that participants arrive to classes, rehearsals, and performances on time and that suitable arrangements are made for their timely collection.

Inform Valkyrie Theatre Company as soon as possible if your child is going to be absent from any event.

Let Valkyrie Theatre Company know promptly about any concerns or problems that might affect the participant’s behavior/work.

Fill out the conflict form to the best of their knowledge. Understand that if they add any conflicts during rehearsals or performances that were not disclosed on the form, Valkyrie Theatre Company has the right to replace the performer for the rest of the run, without a refund, for the sake of the performance, other cast members, and the paying audience.

Support participant in learning lines and any other activity

Ensure that all communication with Valkyrie Theatre Company and participants is done in a respectful manner.

Support the 3 warning system*

*Our workshops will follow the 3 warning system for minors (under 18). If a student has behaviors that break the code of conduct or do not follow the core values, they will first receive a verbal warning, and an email will be sent to the parents/guardians. If the behavior continues, there will be a meeting between the parents/guardians, the child, the Director, and the Executive Director. The third warning will result in immediate dismissal. There is no refund for students who are dismissed from the workshop.

Any participant who believes that he or she has observed or has experienced prohibited behaviors should report these immediately.

I have read and understand the Women’s Theatre Collective/ Valkyrie Theatre Company Code of Conduct. I agree to abide by the rules described above and understand that any participant who violates this code is subject to disciplinary actions, up to and including removal from the production I am currently participating in and/or probation or barring from future involvement related to the company. I understand that if removed from a class or workshop no refund will be provided.

Participant Signature

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Participant Full Name

Parent/Guardian Signature (if participant is under 18):

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Parent/Guardian Full Name

DEFINITIONS

What is harassment?

● A course of comments or actions that are known, or ought reasonably to be known, to be unwelcome. It can involve words or actions that are known or should be known to be offensive, embarrassing, humiliating, demeaning or unwelcome, including any such words or actions based on a ground of discrimination identified by this policy.

● If a person does not explicitly object to harassing behavior, or appears to be going along with it, this does not mean that the behavior is okay. The behavior could still be considered harassment under this Code of Conduct.

● Examples of harassment, including, but not limited to, sexual, non-sexual, and gender harassment, are:

- Epithets, remarks, jokes or innuendos, including those related to any of the above grounds

- Posting or circulating offensive pictures, graffiti or materials, whether in print form or via e-mail or other electronic means

- Hostile or intimidating actions or remarks

- Gender-related comments about a person’s physical characteristics or mannerisms

- Paternalism based on gender which undermines a person’s self-respect or position of responsibility

- Physical contact without expressed consent and (in instances of creative application) applicable discussion or choreography

- Suggestive or offensive remarks or innuendoes about members of a specific gender

- Propositions of physical intimacy inside the performance space

- Gender-related verbal abuse, threats or taunting

- Leering or inappropriate staring

- Bragging about sexual prowess or questions or discussions about sexual activities

- Offensive jokes or comments of a sexual nature about a participant or patron

- Rough and vulgar humor or language related to gender

- Display of sexually offensive pictures, graffiti or other materials including through electronic means

- Demands for dates or sexual favors.

What is sexual soliciting?

This policy prohibits sexual solicitations or advances by any person who is in a position of power due to age, role, responsibility, or other characteristic. Reprisals for rejecting such advances or solicitations are also not allowed.

What is bullying?

Bullying is classified as behavior that psychologically or physically hurts, manipulates, or isolates a person within the workplace or professional environment. It can involve a singular or repeated incident, or a pattern of behavior that is intended to intimidate, offend, degrade, abuse, or humiliate a particular person or group of people. While bullying is a form of aggression, the actions can be both obvious and subtle. It is also qualified as the assertion of power through aggression by those in a position of influence or authority. As part of the Code of Conduct, bullying is a form of harassment that is under no circumstances to be tolerated, condoned, or ignored. If you are unsure if an action or statement could be considered bullying, you can use the "reasonable person" test. Would most people consider the action unacceptable?

Examples of bullying include:

- Spreading malicious rumors, gossip, or innuendo

- Excluding or isolating someone socially

- Intimidating a person

- Undermining or deliberately impeding a person's performance or duties

- Physically abusing or threatening abuse

- Withholding necessary information or purposefully giving the wrong information

- Making jokes that are 'obviously offensive' by spoken word, social media, or e-mail - Intruding on a person's privacy by pestering, spying or stalking

- Yelling or using profanity

- Criticizing a person persistently or constantly

- Belittling a person's opinions or performance

- Tampering with a person's personal belongings or props