Delivered by Grace Hatchell, 2nd Act Courier
Hello lovelies,
I’ve just tipped out my satchel and what should fall out but this shiny new Ethical Standards Charter. No, it’s not as tasty as a bag of Percy Pigs, but it might just keep us honest while we skip around the Fringe and beyond.
So here’s what Theatre Village promises you, straight from my postbag to your stage door:
1. No Secret Strings Attached
We don’t belong to any PR company, agency, or shadowy back-alley star dealer. If someone’s trying to pull our strings, they’ll get tangled in my satchel straps first.
2. Stars Earned, Not Sprinkled
When we dish out stars, they’re proper hard-won. No five-star inflation here — you’ve got to make us laugh, cry, or spill our wine.
3. Independent Voice Only
Our reviews come from one real writer with his own opinion. No scripts, no bribes, no whispered “make it glowing or else.”
4. Curated with Care
We choose shows because we believe in them — whether they’re scrappy wildcards or slick productions. If you’re in our satchel, it’s because we thought you deserved a stamp.
5. Gossip Kept in Quarantine
Yes, I love a good whisper, but news and reviews aren’t for sale. I’ll happily pass along cheeky gossip, but I won’t sell stars for secrets.
There you have it. Signed, sealed, delivered — with smudged ink because I was eating a Jaffa Cake at the time.
Grace Hatchell
Official Courier of Theatrical Truths
2nd Act Couriers
Actually Andrew can write it better than me, so here it is:
Theatre Village Ethical Policy
Introduction
Theatre Village is committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparency, fairness, and integrity in all of our coverage. As an independent platform, we recognise the trust placed in us by artists, audiences, and industry professionals. This policy outlines the principles that guide our editorial practice and ensures that our reviews and articles remain impartial and credible.
1. Independence
Theatre Village operates independently. We are not owned by, nor do we have financial ties to, any publicity agency, PR firm, or external organisation with a vested interest in the outcome of our coverage. All editorial decisions are made solely by the editor and writer.
2. Integrity of Reviews
Star ratings and written reviews reflect genuine critical opinion. They are awarded on the basis of artistic merit, performance quality, and overall audience experience. We do not inflate ratings, and no external party has influence over the allocation of stars or the content of our reviews.
3. Single Author Voice
All reviews are written by one independent writer. This ensures consistency of voice and approach while maintaining full accountability for every published opinion.
4. Curated Coverage
We carefully select the productions we review. Choices are made to reflect a diverse mix of work, from large-scale productions to independent and emerging voices. This curation ensures our platform reflects the breadth and spirit of live performance, while leaving room for discovery and unexpected highlights.
5. Transparency in Practice
While Theatre Village may accept complimentary press tickets, this never guarantees positive coverage. Reviews are always conducted in good faith and reflect an honest audience response. Any potential conflicts of interest will be openly declared.
6. Separation of News and Commentary
Theatre Village occasionally publishes news, features, and gossip-style columns. These are presented separately from reviews. While features may adopt a light-hearted or playful tone, editorial standards of honesty and accuracy are upheld at all times.
Theatre Village believes in supporting artists while maintaining critical integrity. Our aim is to provide readers with trustworthy reviews and curated recommendations, while giving performers confidence that their work will be assessed fairly, transparently, and independently.
