The theatre (and television sets) are very bizarre environments. I spent a good 20 years in both. You have to form a good team, for what often is intimate work, from day 1. You are at work from 6am until late some shoots; there is no room for the usual office politics. Day after day you may trawl across the country on location after location. You’re lucky if you can put down roots in a dressing room for a few days or weeks if your in a studio environment.
In the theatre you may have a Get In at 8am, tech rehearsal & a matinee & evening performance before you do a Get Out. Week long productions or even longer pantos are very hard work but blissful as you can do the same show over & over.
You bond quickly not only for the sake of getting a good performance, but for security as, especially on travelling plays or location shoots, you’re exposed emotionally, away from your home support networks. I’ve travelled the world in my ‘showbiz’ jobs. You need to support each other & have that support yourself. You have to let your guard down to form a bond in performance.
Couple that with the usual day to day things that are, by their nature, intimate (I’m not talking sexual scenes, but costume dressers, sharing spaces for changing, prosthetics & make up etc).
Add in the simple fact that to do these kind of jobs, as an actor or tech, you tend to be more ‘outgoing’, and in the secure environment you make together, and daft things can happen (I’ve seen more willies than you can shake a stick at, being wangled for comedy effect.
Before anyone storms in & claims this is a form of sexual assault, please listen carefully.
When I started that career in the theatre, as a part time tech, I had just turned 16. In the panto that year, I was sexually assaulted on an almost daily basis by one of the ‘stars’. Hands on groping, rubbing, touching intimate areas. One tech got trapped in a dressing room by another ‘star’ in the afternoon before a show & we had to break a fire glass to get everyone evacuated just to be able to get her, and him, out.
The man who attacked me is dead, thank goodness. My sister worked with me too & has had therapy to deal with her experience with him.
A gay guy wangling a Willy for daft (but stupid) comedy relief is miles apart from being sexually assaulted or harassed.
It is stupid and vulgar though.
I also trained as a drama teacher at 20. I’ve been both a performer & a tech. I’ve chaperoned kids around the world. I’m not a n00b in this world. I’ve also, in the past 5 years as my disability gets worse slogged 9-5 in an office (soul destroying) and I know which world is rather be in. Even with the wangling willies.
Of course, it isn’t appropriate. It’s childish behaviour (and herding a company of actors can be like stuffing fog in a bag sometimes). As an adult & teching as a stage manager, I’ve pulled actors aside for inappropriate behaviour. Heck, I’ve even been part of sacking one or two. But in an industry where the average day is 16hrs, and you work & play hard on occasion, stupid behaviour can happen.
Sexual behaviour needs to rooted out. I have complete sympathy with the victims of Noel Clarke. Some actors think they rule the roost & are invincible. They crave & demand attention (what other career do you get clapped at & praises by the public every day?).
I’m rambling. But you must understand it’s a weird, weird environment. I’ve seen both sides, and been assaulted along the way.
and said "actually I just wanted some napkins" and had to push past him. Pricks. Looking back I REALLY wish I'd said "who?" But I wasn't quick enough sadly.
This is nothing new nor has it ever been a secret - John has spoken of it at many comic cons as have co-stars (including him putting his cock in Eve Myles' hair rollers in Torchwood) and James Marsden had spoken of how he might knock him out if he was handsy with him but then went on to call him a consummate professional in their kissing scene and really supportive.
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