Equity Agreement + Casting Statement

Platform Casting Policy

Although Platform is mainly a receiving house, a venue that hosts touring theatre, music, dance and visual art made elsewhere, we do occasionally make our own shows and productions. On these occasions, we aim to present audiences with work of the highest possible quality and believe the casting of these productions to be an integral part of the artistic process.

We have worked with Equity to refresh our contracts of employment for Performers and Stage Managers and a copy of the contracts we issue can be found here. We also support Equity’s #CastItHere campaign and, where possible and appropriate look to cast and support professionals based in Scotland with a particular focus on Glasgow. There may be occasions when we seek to cast a performer from outside of Scotland but this is rare and must be in exceptional circumstances. 

Each of the shows we produce is cast by the director of that production with support from core staff as and when required. Casting breakdowns for available roles are shared with agents and agencies operating across Scotland. Casting windows, when the company is looking to recruit performers, will also be advertised on our website and social media channels. Performers that meet the role descriptors, are available and interested in the work are invited to audition. We tend to employ a workshop-style approach to casting with performers invited to work and read together before short lists are drawn up and offers made. Recall auditions are sometimes utilised but not for every production.

Occasionally direct offers for roles in our productions will be made and the reasons for this vary but we are aware of the lack of opportunities for performers currently working in Scotland and are committed to providing open and accessible casting processes.

Platform believe in including artists from diverse backgrounds and cultures on the basis of sex, gender, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race (including ethnic origin, colour, nationality, and national origin), disability, sexual orientation, religion and or belief, age, and whether they are drama school trained or not) in all the productions and shows we make. When we are looking for performers for roles that are culturally specific, we are committed to first casting a performer from that culture. Artists from diverse backgrounds are, however, considered for every role. All performers who are offered paid work at Platform are asked to complete an anonymous monitoring form to help us monitor our progress.

For more information about casting at Platform or to register your interest in meeting core staff for the venue and being considered for upcoming productions email the venue: info@platform-online.co.uk