When is 'stunt casting' no longer stunt casting?

If we like them, it’s not stunt.
If we hate them, it is.

Simples!

I think i actually mean both, stunt and star. At what point is it just seen as "casting" and nothing more?  No difference between Beverly Knight getting a role compared to if Rachel Tucker did, for example.

That's just fame/celebrity, though - and is really defined by whether the tabloids would bother writing about you. If you can walk past a pack of paps without a single one of them even twitching to take a photo then you're not a tabloid-level celeb.

Stunt casting is when a 'celeb' is famous for something other than theatre-related work, has no experience in theatre-related work, and is cast in a production in order merely to draw the attention of the tabloid press. It should be surprising - so it was surprising the first time Beverley Knight was cast in a musical, but it's not any more. Thus, it is now star casting rather than stunt casting. There's still a difference between Beverley and Rachel, because Rachel isn't a celeb. 

I think Peter Andre sort of defies categorisation in general, to be honest!

I was about to write something similar and Monkey totally took the words out of my mouth, though I cannot agree with the first 4 words of the post!

I have seen some stunning unknown (to the non-theatre-going masses) singers and comedians in provincial pantos over the years who would totally have wiped the floor with many just-out-of-XFactor or used-to-be-in-Eastenders stuntly cast people.

Panto deserves decent professionals as much as any other form of live theatre. After all, it is many, many children's first foray into visiting (and, indeed, performing) in a theatre.

Burly, can you please remove you paws from your underpants.  I am starting to find your posts somewhat disconcerting for a woman of my age and standing in the community.

It's hard to say. I'd argue (possibly) that the NT could have 'got away' without a star name. And it's been done both ways-in the 90s, Henry Goodman here was the only 'name' (at that time, Daniel Craig and Jason Issacs of course went on to be a bit known...) while in NY they had 'local' well knowns in Stephen Spinella, Joe Mantello etc. But those were also different times. 

Of course we're also muddied by the history of the play in this go around- had it ended up at the Old Vic with Spacey...but also that Lane was a late addition at the NT. Meanwhile enough 'theatre names' make up the rest of the cast, and given the play's history it probably would have done a decent run at the NT without ole Spidey. Who of course is much more than ole Spidey but his name sells...etc etc. 


The favourite 'other' choice of course remains Andrew Scott, following the NT 50, though to my knowledge I don't think he was ever a contender in this go around. 


(I shall avoid info dumping half an afternoon's work here however...)  

Amanda Holden blurs the line because she is likely cast in things like Cinderella or Stepping Out because she puts bums on seats but at the same time, she is a capable actress. 

Stunt casting is when someone with no theatrical training or background is given a big part in a show,or play because it will attract their fans whom they may have gained through an entirely different field. But remember a lot of people who for example may be well known in news reading may have had a training in something Theatre based. Voice work, ballet lessons all build confidence. And actors in soaps often have many skills not put into practice. They usually go for Strictly! I don’t think Sheridan Smith is stunt casting. I think she is an accomplished theatre performer. James Corden is an accomplished actor. He chooses to put his skills to what he does now.

I think Corden acting wise has a similar issue to what happened a couple of years ago when he was starring in things like Lesbian Vampire Killers, Horne and Corden and he acknowledged that in his autobiography, One Man, Two Guvnors helped rehabilitate him in the eyes of the media. He wasn't bad in Ocean's 8 but he seems to be picking easy gigs like Peter Rabbit and Smallfoot but I guess doing a four day a week chatshow and having a family means, you can't do much else

I never get why soap actors get a hard time if they decide to do theatre or other television work, many started in theatre and EastEnders to be fair did cast a lot of people from theatre backgrounds like Maria Friedman, Jenna Russell to name but a few

I go back and forth on Corden, part of me wants to go 'good on you lad, you milk it for all it's worth' and the other half of me goes 'oh dear do you have to be EVERYWHERE'

I do think however he'll have a few years out in America, a few years back in the wilderness then probably have a resurgence via the stage or TV in the UK. He was however, dire in Ocean's 8 which probably isn't his fault.

Surely James Corden in The History Boys at the NT, Broadway and the film absolves him from ANY accusation of stunt? And his first ever stage role as a teenager was in Martin Guerre.

I know he’s been over exposed and not everyone likes him but you can’t take his chops away.

Yes, perhaps we should park Corden (can you tell I’ve been in lots of meetings this week?!).

And Ms Tucker is much more talented... IMHO