Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
“Oh! It was just banter...!”
When does workplace banter cross the line? And what happens when nobody challenges it?
We've all heard it:
But what happens when the person on the receiving end isn't laughing? When colleagues witness inappropriate behaviour but say nothing? Or when a manager knows there's a problem but doesn't want to upset a long-standing member of the team?
Sexual harassment at work isn't always recognised or challenged when it happens. Sometimes inappropriate behaviour becomes so familiar that people stop questioning it.
At Resound Training & Development, we use professional actors and interactive forum theatre to help organisations explore these difficult situations, challenge assumptions and develop more effective ways of responding.
Our workshop, “Oh! It was just banter...!”, brings the realities of workplace sexual harassment to life.
“Oh! It was just banter...!” Our interactive forum theatre workshop
Imagine this situation.
Sam
A valued employee who enjoys her job but is increasingly uncomfortable with the behaviour of a colleague.
Bob
An experienced manager, well-liked by some colleagues and known for his sense of humour. His inappropriate comments have been raised before, but nothing much has changed.
Susie
The manager who discovers what's been happening. She knows she needs to act, but she's also worked alongside Bob for years.
When Sam finally raises her concerns, she makes it clear that she doesn't want to cause trouble.
Susie speaks to Bob, but does she handle the conversation effectively? Does Bob understand the seriousness of his behaviour? And what happens to Sam afterwards?
The situation becomes increasingly uncomfortable as the consequences of poor management decisions unfold.
These are fictional characters, but the workplace dilemmas they face will be familiar to many organisations.
"Amazing videos which touch sensitive topics that managers face every day. Perfect in length, with real people you can relate to."— Rachel Begbie, Regional Director of Human Resources EMEA, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
UK Worker Protection Act Compliance
Under UK law, employers have a mandatory legal duty to take reasonable, proactive steps to prevent sexual harassment. Actor-led forum theatre provides tangible evidence of meaningful prevention that shifts culture far beyond annual tick-box questionnaires.
What happens during the workshop?
Our professional actors perform a series of realistic workplace scenes that explore inappropriate behaviour, the impact on individuals and the responsibilities of managers.
But this isn't a performance where the audience simply sits and watches.
Participants become actively involved in examining what is happening, why it occurs, and how people can intervene constructively:
Watch realistic workplace scenes unfold
Observe what people actually say, how subtle body language conveys discomfort, and how inappropriate behaviour plays out in real time.
Question the characters in-depth
Interview Sam, Bob, and Susie in-character to understand their thoughts, feelings, motivations, and hidden assumptions.
Identify critical turning points
Spot the exact moments where communication broke down, boundaries were crossed, or where colleagues and managers missed opportunities to intervene.
Direct the actors to test new approaches
Suggest alternative ways of handling the conversations and direct the actors to replay the scenes to see what difference it makes.
Explore active bystander intervention
Test practical, non-confrontational ways for colleagues to speak up, diffuse awkward moments, or support colleagues who feel uncomfortable.
Strengthen manager response & accountability
Explore how managers can handle sensitive disclosures, hold team members accountable, and prevent further distress without making situations worse.
The Five Stages of Forum Theatre
From identifying the workplace challenge through to applying the learning, this horizontal sequence illustrates how delegates explore sensitive harassment issues without being put on the spot.
Identify the Challenge
Understand the workplace dilemma
We consult with your team to understand your specific cultural context, policies, and the subtle boundary-crossing or banter issues your managers struggle with.
Watch Unfiltered Scenario
Actors bring the situation to life
Professional actors perform realistic scenes featuring Sam, Bob, and Susie. Participants observe the subtle cues, discomfort, and poor management choices as they unfold.
Freeze & Question Characters
Examine hidden thoughts & fears
The audience pauses the action to question the characters directly—discovering why Sam hesitated to speak, why Bob dismissed his comments, and why Susie avoided taking action.
Direct the Action & Test Tactics
Rehearse practical interventions
Delegates coach the actors on what to say and do differently. The actors replay the scene immediately, demonstrating the real-world ripple effects of timely intervention.
Apply the Learning at Work
Cements active bystander habits
Facilitators draw out key behavioural insights, equipping staff and managers with practical communication tools they can use immediately—without anyone having had to role-play.
Explore Resound's Five Forum Theatre Workshops
Distinctive titles built around the conversational dilemmas employees and managers face every day.
“Oh! It was just banter...!”
Sexual Harassment Prevention & Bystander Intervention
When does workplace humour cross the line? Explore inappropriate behaviour, bystander responses, and manager responsibilities under the UK Worker Protection Act.
“Can we have a word...?”
Performance Management & Difficult Conversations
Why do managers delay tough conversations? Help leaders address dips in performance early, manage defensive pushback, and balance empathy with accountability using Resound's ECA framework.
“I didn't mean it like that...”
Everyday Inclusion, Microaggressions & Psychological Safety
Unpack how everyday conversational habits, subtle exclusion, and conversational blind spots undermine team trust—without defensiveness, finger-pointing, or guilt.
“It's not my job...”
Workplace Conflict, Defensiveness & Peer Collaboration
Bring competing priorities and unspoken frustration into the room, helping cross-functional colleagues navigate tension and rebuild collaborative working relationships.
“Everything is changing...”
Leading Teams Through Uncertainty & Restructuring
Equip leaders to communicate difficult organisational decisions with empathy and clarity, address employee anxiety, and navigate restructuring consultation with composure.
Tailored Scenarios
Your Context & Culture
Need a scenario adapted to your sector, hybrid working setup, or specific reporting frameworks? We regularly build bespoke scripts reflecting your exact operating reality.
“A week later and I'm still running things through my head. The actors were just amazing. I'm still kind of irritated at 'Bob'. Yesterday I was wondering how 'Sam' was getting on at work. The experience truly changes how you think.”
Red remembers the characters as real people, not simply actors in a training session. That is why forum theatre creates habits that stick.
Adapting “Oh! It was just banter...!” to your organisation
While the dynamics between Sam, Bob, and Susie illustrate universal dilemmas, we regularly tailor the scenario to reflect your organization's specific operating environment:
- Reflecting your workplace context: Adapting character roles to match corporate, NHS, higher education, or remote/hybrid office environments.
- Aligning with internal policies: Referencing your actual reporting mechanisms, HR pathways, and bystander support resources.
- Targeted learning outcomes: Tuning emphasis for all-staff active bystander intervention or senior management accountability under the Worker Protection Act.
Face-to-face UK delivery • Live virtual sessions via Zoom & Teams
Who is this workshop for?
All Employees & Teams
Creates shared standards of respect, clarifies when banter crosses into harassment, and equips colleagues with practical active bystander skills.
People Managers & Supervisors
Builds the confidence to address inappropriate comments immediately, conduct difficult accountability conversations, and handle disclosures without escalating distress.
HR & Senior Leadership
Fosters psychological safety across the organisation and provides demonstrable evidence of taking proactive steps under the UK Worker Protection Act.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about our sexual harassment prevention and forum theatre workshops.
Related services
Forum Theatre
Interactive workplace drama enabling teams to rehearse difficult interpersonal interventions.
Actor-Led Corporate Training
How drama-based learning transforms organisational culture and managerial behaviour.
Performance Management
Actor-led training for managers using the ECA framework (Empathy, Care, Action).
Get in Touch with Resound
Enquire about sexual harassment prevention training
Discuss how Resound can support your organisation with interactive, drama-based learning.