EDI Statement.

Policy Draft. 3/2022.

Statement: 

The Porters of Hellsgate seek to be the first LA company to complete Shakespeare’s commonly accepted canon of plays with productions that react to and reflect 21st Century Los Angeles. We know that Shakespeare’s words sing when they come from the mouths of a diverse company. We are therefore committed to creating an actively inclusive, supportive, and safe company culture that will facilitate true diversity both on our stages and behind the scenes. 

Policy: 

While we believe that Shakespeare’s works present a universal exploration of the human condition, we recognize that he was also writing in a very specific socio-political context many centuries ago. In order to achieve our mission to create vibrant and relevant productions of Shakespeare’s works, it is imperative that we cultivate true diversity within our own creative ranks. 

In order to fully achieve this, we commit to:

  1. Challenge received understanding of who is allowed to play these parts. We endeavor to fit the right actor with the right role, regardless of race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or body type; and to, whenever possible, actively challenge and expand traditional understandings of these classic parts through original and exciting casting. 

  2. Thoroughly interrogate each and every script to ensure that we are creating anti-racist productions. This does not mean that we intend to sanitize the work. Shakespeare frequently investigated the ugliest aspects of humanity, and to shy away from said aspects is to do only half the work. However, Shakespeare was also writing for a society with different values than ours, and his works often feature casual racism and sexism that does not further the story or deepen the characters. In crafting our productions, we promise to interrogate and curate the text to unlock these complex and wonderful stories for all. 

  3. Solicit and respond to frank feedback. We will always enter productions in good faith, with the goal of creating rewarding experiences for audiences and creatives alike. We also recognize that we are fallible human beings, and will make mistakes. We encourage honest feedback from our community.