We at Left Coast Theatre Co. are committed to maintaining an inclusive environment and making sure all artists feel comfortable and welcome regardless of age, race or ethnicity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, or any other characteristics that make our artists, creatives, staff, and volunteers unique. We believe all who work for Left Coast Theatre Co. have the right to a safe and respectful work environment, and we expect all our participants and patrons to conduct themselves with the same level of respect.
Left Coast Theatre Co. is committed to expanding our artistic reach both in terms of subject and viewpoint, believing that theater is at its best when it tells the unique and varied stories within our community. We are committed to educating ourselves constantly, and extending our outreach in the theater, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC communities, so that the stories we perform accurately reflect the communities we desire to represent. With this in mind, we also strive to ensure that everyone who puts their time and effort into an LCTC production knows that their contribution is valued and respected. Everyone receives an expense stipend for their time and work on our shows, and it is our goal to increase that stipend by no less than 20% every year moving forward.
Land Acknowledgement
Left Coast Theatre Co. recognizes that no matter what venue we have the good fortune to perform in, first and foremost we work and perform on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone peoples, who are the original inhabitants of the colonial-named city of San Francisco. The Ohlone, a collection of over 50 tribes, lived on these lands for over 10,000 years before San Francisco was California, or California was Spain, or Mexico, or the United States. As guests on their land, we wish to pay our respects to the ancestors and families of the Ramaytush, and affirm their sovereign rights as first peoples.
Code of Conduct
Left Coast Theatre Co. expects all of its artists, creatives, and management to adhere to the following Code of Conduct while under a project agreement. While we cannot anticipate every issue or predict all possible dilemmas, the following principles explain the essence of how Left Coast Theatre Co. intends to conduct business. This Code of Conduct will be reviewed every year by the management team of Left Coast Theatre Co., and will evolve as needed to ensure that we are serving our communities to the best of our abilities.
- Left Coast Theatre Co. (LCTC) understands that all who work for the company are volunteers, and are offering up their time, skills, and efforts freely. Knowing this, LCTC promises: to respect the time and energy our artists and creatives put into each project, to be as efficient as possible while creating rehearsal and production schedules, to expect no more from any individual than already confirmed production commitments, to consult with all parties involved of changes if/when they arise, and to minimize the number of unilateral decisions.
- We believe all who work for LCTC have the right to a safe and respectful work environment, and should in no way feel unwelcome due to their age, race or ethnicity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, or any other such characteristics. To create this environment, all of our artists, crew, and admin staff must sign a written agreement which includes an adherence to such respect from all parties involved.
- We understand that every individual has biases, and sometimes those biases may be challenged due to the nature of the stories that LCTC tells on its stages. We ask every individual who comes onboard a project to acknowledge those biases are part of their personal journey, and it is the responsibility of that individual, and not of LCTC, to work through them in order to bring their best selves to a project.
- LCTC respects that each individual’s gender pronouns and names are decided by that individual. It is an expectation that all who work with LCTC adherently respect the gender pronouns and names of each individual on a project.
- LCTC has a zero tolerance policy for actual or threatened violence, harassment (including racial, sexual or gender-biased harassment), and bullying of any LCTC artist, creative, or patron. This includes unwelcome advances, verbal or non-verbal conduct, and non-consensual touching. Anyone found to be in violation of this policy will be immediately terminated from the project.
- LCTC believes in creating a safe environment for artists and creatives to express themselves openly and authentically. To this end we work to create an environment of respect, good-faith, and understanding. We encourage artists to engage in open dialogue with their team, ask questions when a direction is not clear, always gain consent before engaging in physical contact with another artist, and to respect the physical and emotional boundaries set by another coworker.
- While LCTC is a volunteer-based nonprofit organization and indie theater company, we aim to always provide a professional work environment for all. Many who work with LCTC come from various backgrounds of theater and live performance, and we pride ourselves on melding those experiences together to create a project all can feel proud of. Creatives and artists who work with LCTC are expected to maintain that same level of professionalism, respect, and collaboration with their teammates in order to create amazing theater for our community.
- The health and safety of every person on an LCTC project is a priority above all else. We will not sacrifice the importance of a healthy team over the production of a show, and any concerns about this should be immediately brought to the attention of a director or producer.