Safety of women travelling home from theatre work is an ‘afterthought’ – Equity

"Women and people of marginalised genders in performing arts, healthcare, hospitality, retail, emergency services, and transport services rely on late-night travel for their livelihoods. Yet for too long, their safety has been treated as an afterthought,’ Oloan said.

Oloan added: "The cost-of-living crisis further restricts their options, making taxis and ride-sharing unaffordable. No one should have to choose between their safety and their job. No one should be vulnerable simply because they are travelling home after work."

Creative unions who have raised the alarm about sexual harassment in recent years have often focused on performers’ experiences in the workplace itself, with BECTU demanding "radical step change" in the sector after its research claimed nine in 10 creative workers face have faced sexual harassment at work.

However, Equity has historically highlighted performers’ anti-social hours exacerbating the problem. In 2019, former president Maureen Beattie said that late-night working hours, as well as short-term contracts and low pay, had created an environment where bullies and sexual predators are able to thrive.