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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2017 22:00:45 GMT
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227 posts
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Jan 1, 2017 22:25:01 GMT
This is definietly an issue that is endemic onstage and off. I'd go so far as to say that whenever I've worked in the west-end or at the National other ethnic backgrounds are probably better represented within the cast than they are backstage or on the creative teams. That said theatre is still head and shoulders above film crew diversity which is almostly exclusively white and male (outside of the traditional "women's remit" of costume, hair and makeup (and continuity?!)).
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 12:27:22 GMT
The two most well-written and well-performed pieces of art I've seen in the last few years - Hamilton and Moonlight (film) - were both written and performed by non-white people. This makes me sad when I think about the amount of people that in the past never got the opportunity in the arts that they could have due to their ethnicity. I'm sure we've missed out on a number of excellent performers and creatives. I agree that it's as much (if not more) a backstage issue as it is an issue on stage/screen. Also would love to see more women as writers and directors.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 14:18:47 GMT
I agree with the article in terms that there are shows full of black people (Memphis, Motown, Dreamgirls etc) but there are also shows where ethnicity isn't specified but no BAME talent involved. It does depend on who is BEST for the role they audition for though.
As for directors, there is this brilliant successful film director called Amma Asante who has directed some great films and is also Black and a Woman. Would be good to see her direct a play one day (I have a brilliant revival in thought that I would love her to direct one day)
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 22:52:33 GMT
It should, in an ideal world, be a case of casting whoever seems best for the role.
But the problem, I imagine, is that BAME performers aren't being seen for what we might call 'starter' roles or intermediate ones, so they can't gain experience/make a name for themselves, which means the big roles are then out of reach.
That's even before we take into account things like subconscious bias (interviewers hire people who look/think/talk like them, so if the interviewers are white, university-educated and middle-class, chances are the majority of their staff/performers will fall into those categories).
When actors of the calibre of David Oyelowo, Idris Elba etc are saying they had to pursue careers in the US to get the kind of filming opportunities they were looking for but couldn't get in the UK, you do have to question quite how often the 'best' performer is cast, rather than the 'acceptable to the (predominantly white) audience' performer. I feel UK television is (slowly) getting better, but there's a long way to go (as there is for disabled and/or female talent). And it seems like theatre needs to really catch up.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2017 10:14:37 GMT
It should, in an ideal world, be a case of casting whoever seems best for the role. But the problem, I imagine, is that BAME performers aren't being seen for what we might call 'starter' roles or intermediate ones, so they can't gain experience/make a name for themselves, which means the big roles are then out of reach. That's even before we take into account things like subconscious bias (interviewers hire people who look/think/talk like them, so if the interviewers are white, university-educated and middle-class, chances are the majority of their staff/performers will fall into those categories). When actors of the calibre of David Oyelowo, Idris Elba etc are saying they had to pursue careers in the US to get the kind of filming opportunities they were looking for but couldn't get in the UK, you do have to question quite how often the 'best' performer is cast, rather than the 'acceptable to the (predominantly white) audience' performer. I feel UK television is (slowly) getting better, but there's a long way to go (as there is for disabled and/or female talent). And it seems like theatre needs to really catch up. I do agree with this. There are loads of BAME musical theatre students (you can see them on agencies etc) but they obviously don't get a look in on certain roles. I don't see why. It should be who is the best actor/actress for the role regardless of anything else |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2017 11:59:01 GMT
Since there was a mini debate in the Cinderella thread about there not being any ethnic minority characters in Cinderella which led to a discussion about other shows, I thought I'd move that other to this thread where it has more relevance.
I think this a really interesting topic to discuss
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2,041 posts
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Post by 49thand8th on Jan 20, 2017 16:45:05 GMT
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