Theatre Ethics in Practice

                eth·ic           Pronunciation: 'e-thik                 Function: noun

                Etymology: Middle English ethik, from Middle French ethique, from

                Latin ethice, from Greek EthikE, from Ethikos

                Date: 14th century

                1   the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and

                     with moral duty and obligation

                2    a: a set of moral principles or values

                      b: a theory or system of moral  values

                      c: the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group

                          <professional ethics>

                      d: a guiding philosophy

You are a member of a theatre company.  The troupe has been together for several years and you all earn enough money to live comfortably.  A guest director has been invited to direct the next play.  You are cast in a small part and think you should have had a bigger role.  The director's rehearsal style is very free flowing and you are used to very organized and structured rehearsals. You are beginning to develop feelings of resentment and disrespect toward your director. 

The following are possible courses of action.  Discuss the ethics of each action.  Describe the effect of the actions on each person involved (the actor, the director, the other cast members, the crew and theatre staff, the audience, innocent bystanders, etc.)  Can your group think of any other possible actions?  Which would be the most ethical action? Which the least?

1.You go out after rehearsals with your best friends in the company and complain bitterly about the director, but you still cooperate at rehearsals and continue to give the play your best effort. Unfortunately, other actors who like the director are at the same restaurant and overhear your conversations.  Word gets back to the director.  What do you do next?

2.You get fed up with what you perceive as wasted rehearsal time and explode at the director during rehearsal.  The director tries to explain why she wants the cast to rehearse in this way, but you walk out in disgust. You think over the idea of quitting the company.  The show opens in two weeks.

3.You write an anonymous letter of complaint to the board of directors of your theatre company.  In it, you write out all your complaints about the director as well as listing in great detail all the negative gossip and stories you have heard second and third hand about the director.  You don't know if all the stories are true, but figure that the director has earned the negative comments.  How will you feel if the director is replaced?  What if you are fingered as the letter writer and you are replaced?  Discuss how gossip can ruin reputations.

4.Before rehearsal, you are standing in the theatre lobby with some actors talking about the director.  Members of the public are standing in line to buy tickets.  In response to a comment about the director, you say in a loud and angry voice, "Our director is an ugly evil toad who can't direct her way out of a paper bag!"  The story gets back to the director as well as to the local theatre critic who is coming to review the show.  You tell the other actors that you have a right to freedom of speech.  However, many of the actors are disgusted that you have drawn public attention to a private quarrel.  They begin to shun you.  What actions, if any, should you take to resolve the problem?