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Come, come, and sit you down. You shall not budge.
You go not till I set you up a glass
Where you may see the inmost part of you.

Hamlet, Act III, scene iv

MISSION

Ensemble Studio Theatre Los Angeles is a company of artists who collaborate to create and develop original, bold, risk-taking theatre. Through the telling of diverse stories, we challenge our artists and our audiences to meet the moment; to see the world through a new lens, and explore our shared humanity.

VISION & VALUES

As an incubator for dynamic and audacious new theatre, EST/LA provides a space where artists across all aspects of identity, perspective, and experience feel safe to create daring work that shakes people up.

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As a company, EST/LA is dedicated to the discovery and development of new voices while continuing to support our member artists. We encourage all of our theatre makers to practice openness and curiosity; to wrestle with the things that make us uncomfortable; to delve into complex issues; to challenge the status quo by questioning assumptions; and to lift up those who’ve been traditionally marginalized as a result of those assumptions.

 

It is long overdue for our membership to accurately reflect the city in which we live and create. Ensuring that the broader LA community sees itself represented in our work and in who we are is essential for meaningful and transformational engagement -- with both our audiences and each other as artists. Embracing the enormous variety of human experience is imperative not only for the creation of impactful theatre, but for the future of EST/LA.

STANDARDS & PRACTICES

At EST/LA, we strive to create spaces where people feel safe enough to be brave.

 

To this end, we encourage all of our theatre makers to:

 

  • Practice openness and curiosity;

  • Respect differing points of view;

  • Question your assumptions – Things may not be as you think or were taught they are;

  • Speak from your own experience – Use “I” statements rather than generalizations;

  • Honor confidentiality – Don’t speak for others without explicit permission, don’t share something communicated in a private or safe space;

  • Take Space/Make Space – If you are usually quiet, challenge yourself to take more space, and if you usually talk a lot, be mindful to leave room for quieter voices;

  • Recognize no one is perfect; to create great art, mistakes must be made. When someone errs, take a thoughtful beat before reacting

  • Step out of your comfort zones;

  • Seek ways to connect with others; 

  • Be accountable for your words and actions; intent vs. impact – No matter your intention, you’re responsible for your impact. If someone expresses hurt or offense as a result of something you’ve said, instead of getting defensive or upset, take the “ouch, oops, I’m sorry” approach: Consider the perspective of the person you've offended, articulate the offense out loud, then apologize for the offense – don’t make it about you or focus the issue around your feelings or intentions; and

  • Handle conflict with LOVE & RESPECT, without yelling, bullying, or storming out.

 

Know that:

You and your contributions are valued.

If you report an issue, you will be heard and actions will be taken to resolve it.

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