Eight in ten performers have been injured on a job – survey

Eight in ten performers have been injured on a job and more than half have had to take time off as a result, according to a poll of 229 UK actors.

Injury prevention consultant Tome Levi carried out the study and has produced a series of recommendations for theatres to reduce the risk of injury as a result of the findings. 

Of the respondents, 72% had worked in the industry for five years or more. 

It found 81% had been injured on a job during their career and 58% had been forced to take time off work due to an injury. Of these, 53% were absent for more than a week.

Other key findings: 

• 70% said they have felt pressured to perform while injured.
• Around a quarter (27%) of injuries occurred during rehearsals and 73% during the run of a show.
• 85% reported experiencing an increase of stress and anxiety in the workplace after an injury occurred at work.
• More than two thirds said sustaining an injury had taken a negative toll on their mental health.
• 27% reported having lost earnings due to an injury sustained at work.
• The vast majority of respondents (95%) said most productions deal with injury after it occurs instead of being proactive in preventing it.

According to the poll, 87% said they believe industry prevention is not treated as a priority by employers, while almost all respondents (99%) agreed early implementation of injury prevention in rehearsals would reduce injury during the run. 

Writing in the report, Levi said: "The findings of this study paint an unflattering picture of the theatre industry’s relationship with injury, demonstrating the heavy impact on performers and exposing the counterintuitive nature of current standard practice.

"[...] When injury causes cast absence, this triggers varying degrees of reactive response including putting on swings, covers, alternates, understudies, bringing in previous cast members on ad hoc basis, replacement hires, sick pay, treatment pay etc."

The industry prevention consultant also outlined how the survey revealed the impact of physical injury on mental health.  

"Aside from the physical trauma of injury itself, responses to this survey show that low morale, loss of earnings, stress, anxiety, general mental ill-health and the aforementioned strained company management were among the most cited by-products of injury during the production process," Levi said.

The report on the survey’s findings outlines a series of recommendations for theatre production companies to prevent injury among cast members. 

These include engaging an injury prevention consultant, carrying out pre-rehearsal cast physiotherapy assessments, engaging a fight director for productions that include fight scenes and employing a stunt coordinator for productions requiring stunts.

The report follows warnings in December last year that cast and crew are at increased risk of burnout and injury in the lead-up to Christmas due to condensed rehearsal schedules, post-pandemic loss of stamina and poor mental health.