International Theater Amsterdam starts “a broad investigation into corporate culture” at ITA. The research will be conducted by an external and independent party, Verinorm agency. The theater company reported this in a press release on Tuesday. On the advice of Verinorm, ITA conducts an internal survey among staff.
An investigation is currently underway into the statements of actress Hélène De Vos, who reported on social media that she had experienced “serious mental and physical abuse” for years. According to Marjan Olfers, director of Verinorm, this research is now in a “final stage”. According to her, there is enough reason, partly because of two previous internal investigations from 2021 and 2023, to “examine the culture and social safety within ITA more broadly.”
The new research should reveal the state of social safety within ITA. A written anonymous survey will be conducted among all employees, and ITA employees will be interviewed. Olfers: “That gives people the opportunity to share experiences in a confidential environment. We also look at possible solutions together with the employees.”
Social safety training
According to ITA, the outcome of the 2021 study into the working climate in a specific department due to signals about an unsafe working culture was that there was no inappropriate behavior. However, “with an external process supervisor, we mapped out how communication and daily management could be improved.”
In 2023, an investigation by independent external research agency ZIN showed that there had been “verbal misconduct” surrounding a performance by the ITA ensemble in Adelaide, Australia in March 2023. According to ITA, “in the interest of social safety measures were taken at the workplace of cast and crew.”
The results of the investigation report have been discussed with those involved and “appropriate measures have been taken to prevent recurrence.” ITA does not make any statements about measures taken “for the sake of the privacy of those involved.”
The company states that in recent years “various measures have been taken to increase social safety in the workplace. A regulation on undesirable behavior has been introduced. An external confidential counselor has been appointed, as well as an intimacy coordinator for the ensemble.”
Furthermore, “a focus group on a safe workplace has been started in which employees, works council members and management team participate. Employees continuously receive training in the areas of social safety, diversity and inclusion.”
Starting this season, even more has changed to ensure social safety. “For example, the actors choose a chef d’actor for each performance, to whom other actors can report if there are unsafe situations on the floor.”
The company once again emphasizes that it considers “any form of transgressive behavior completely unacceptable.” And: “All reports are taken extremely seriously and followed up.”
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