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Post by David J on Jan 31, 2024 14:14:08 GMT
As someone on the autism spectrum I am happy that disabled people are getting represented here and there. But there has to come a point where we can't have our cake and eat it.
The danger is if we say only disabled people should be casted as disabled characters, that could in turn pigeonhole them in those roles and nothing else
This is the problem with proclaiming representation and cancel culture (like this demand to cancel Michelle Terry from the role) that has been going on for years now. It opens cans of worms all over the place and as I say you can't please everyone.
Once upon a time you'd cast the best person that can deliver Shakespeare's lines and acts brilliantly. Sure it's not a perfect system. I find Terry's casting a bit nepotistic, but I know she's a capable actress who can play the role well. But casting by how you identify has caused more problems.
It's a good job no one cries fowl when amateur dramatics cast a non-disabled person as Richard III when chances are they don't have anyone of the sort in the company to start with. All they want to do is put on their version of the play.
And can I play Richard as an autistic or will I be blasted down unless I state very clear that I have an invisible disability.
Me and plenty of people are getting tired of all this. And companies of all kinds are starting to notice and are drawing the line.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Jan 31, 2024 14:39:02 GMT
I haven't heard of an amateur company not doing R3 because they couldn't find an actor with a disability.
But I do know of a company that decided not to stage Priscilla because they were not certain of being able to cast a trans performer as Bernadette.
So the thought processes are already in place.
And whilst it is good to have authenticity in mind when it comes to repertoire selection and casting, you can end up overthinking things
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2,476 posts
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Post by zahidf on Jan 31, 2024 15:10:07 GMT
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Jan 31, 2024 15:19:47 GMT
Ouch. 'It feels like a missed opportunity.' So maybe they could come up with a solution? The Globe not doing themselves any favours with that response. Who signed that off? Seems like it's upsetting a lot of people.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Jan 31, 2024 15:27:00 GMT
That is a story from 2022. It didn't get any other coverage other than that article (which I can't read due to the pay wall) |
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Post by Jan on Jan 31, 2024 15:32:35 GMT
Over here in the real world a charge of “unsafe working conditions” is very serious and it should have been reported to the Health and Safety Executive. But of course it wasn’t, I assume ? |
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Post by zahidf on Jan 31, 2024 18:01:08 GMT
Over here in the real world a charge of “unsafe working conditions” is very serious and it should have been reported to the Health and Safety Executive. But of course it wasn’t, I assume ? Maybe they have? I don't know From the sounds of this, they have had complaints though |
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Post by partytentdown on Feb 1, 2024 8:49:45 GMT
Meanwhile the Globes social media channels are full of videos of dogs wearing ruffs.
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Post by Jan on Feb 1, 2024 10:55:39 GMT
Another iconic disabled character is Dr Strangelove - Steve Coogan and Armando Iannucci better start writing their justification essays now, unless they intend casting a disabled actor in the lead of their musical.
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Post by aspieandy on Feb 1, 2024 12:26:51 GMT
That will be interesting; a chair is likely to work less well on stage than on film. Also, not sure Coogan wants to be so limited for 2 hours.
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2,476 posts
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Post by zahidf on Feb 1, 2024 15:23:10 GMT
Another iconic disabled character is Dr Strangelove - Steve Coogan and Armando Iannucci better start writing their justification essays now, unless they intend casting a disabled actor in the lead of their musical. I dont think there is any indication Strangelove will be in a wheelchair for the new play. though i reserve the right to have a go if he is! Id say his disability in the film isn't really as inherently a part of the character and the themes of the film as Richard the Third's disability is for the plot of his story ( as the play is written). The character of Strangelove is a minor character as well in terms of screen time |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Feb 1, 2024 16:28:13 GMT
Much will depend on the adaptation of Strangelove. If they retain the original tripling of roles, then there will be less pressure to ensure that Strangelove be played by an actor with a disability.
But if they split out the roles, then they should face the same questions.
Strangelove as a character has a very clearly identified condition - alien hand syndrome. It is absolutely there is the writing. It cannot easily be ignored.
However with Shakespeare, you have far greater freedom to reshape the text to suit each production.
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Post by Being Alive on Feb 1, 2024 16:41:39 GMT
Meanwhile the Globes social media channels are full of videos of dogs wearing ruffs. Vibes 😂 |
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Post by Dawnstar on Feb 1, 2024 18:20:14 GMT
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Post by Jan on Feb 1, 2024 18:33:26 GMT
No. Apparently acting isn't about pretending according to someone quoted in that: "But this idea that acting is about pretending is not the case, I would argue. Acting, theatre, is about authenticity; it’s about believability. It’s the same for Black and ethnic characters: it’s about an authentic voice.” So it seems the Globe are doubly wrong for also casting a woman in the role - a bit odd for the Guardian to promote that line but there you are. |
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Post by aspieandy on Feb 1, 2024 19:32:15 GMT
Apropos of very little; I'd pay proper pound notes to see Elizabeth I played by a male at The Globe.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Feb 1, 2024 21:18:27 GMT
The idea that Richard III is a study in realism and psychological truth is just misunderstanding the play. It is not a representation of Elizabethan attitudes towards disability.
It is a piece of populist propaganda.
I don't understand what the cry for authenticity in casting leads anyone to think that this character can only be played by someone with any physical disability. True authenticity would suggest only actors with an serious but not massively impairing form of scoliosis may apply.
There are some productions that will wish to place a focus on disability and others that won't. Both are legitimate routes to take.
But we cannot start accepting casting limits being imposed by vocal lobby groups.
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Post by Dawnstar on Feb 1, 2024 21:33:29 GMT
No. Apparently acting isn't about pretending according to someone quoted in that: "But this idea that acting is about pretending is not the case, I would argue. Acting, theatre, is about authenticity; it’s about believability. It’s the same for Black and ethnic characters: it’s about an authentic voice.” So it seems the Globe are doubly wrong for also casting a woman in the role - a bit odd for the Guardian to promote that line but there you are. If no pretending is permitted in acting then no-one could play Richard III, or any other characters in the play, because there are no actors alive now who were also alive in the 15th century! |
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Post by bordeaux on Feb 1, 2024 23:52:11 GMT
The idea that Richard III is a study in realism and psychological truth is just misunderstanding the play. It is not a representation of Elizabethan attitudes towards disability. It is a piece of populist propaganda. I don't understand what the cry for authenticity in casting leads anyone to think that this character can only be played by someone with any physical disability. True authenticity would suggest only actors with an serious but not massively impairing form of scoliosis may apply. There are some productions that will wish to place a focus on disability and others that won't. Both are legitimate routes to take. But we cannot start accepting casting limits being imposed by vocal lobby groups. Propaganda for what, though? If it's for the Tudors then it isn't very successful. Richard III is one of the most compelling characters in stage history. I've seen Anton Lesser, Ian McKellen, Ciaran Hinds, Kevin Spacey, Ralph Fiennes and the Propeller and Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory versions and I can remember something about each Richard. But Henry VII - I can't even remember any of their faces. Henry VII belongs to the boring characters who are left on the stage at the end when the exciting characters are dead. That's not propaganda - Shakespeare is showing us that we are rather thrilled by dangerous unpredictable leaders, that our feelings are more complicated than simply wanting good governance. Read Emma Smith's brilliant essay on the play in her book on Shakespeare. |
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Post by ladidah on Feb 2, 2024 8:18:23 GMT
There will certainly be a lot of pressure on Terry to excel in the role now, it will be under a microscope.
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Post by cavocado on Feb 7, 2024 10:28:20 GMT
Re the BSL aspect of Antony and Cleopatra, I see that all performances are captioned. Has anyone been to a captioned performance there? Where do they put the caption screens? Are they visible to all areas of the theatre or just front-facing (top price) seats and groundlings?
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Post by kate8 on May 11, 2024 7:35:40 GMT
Has anyone seen Much Ado yet? I’d decided not to book, having seen 4 other Much Ados in the last couple of years, but it sounds quite appealing from the reviews, so now I’m wavering…
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Post by kate8 on May 11, 2024 7:40:31 GMT
Re the BSL aspect of Antony and Cleopatra, I see that all performances are captioned. Has anyone been to a captioned performance there? Where do they put the caption screens? Are they visible to all areas of the theatre or just front-facing (top price) seats and groundlings? It might be too late to answer, but they have two screens either side of the stage at first gallery level - I think on the front of the Gents Boxes or thereabouts. |
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Post by cavocado on May 11, 2024 10:00:09 GMT
Thanks for the caption info. They said the captions for A&C will be integrated into the production design rather than (or maybe as well as?) their usual boards, so I think they should be visible from most seats.
If anyone's looking for Richard III tickets, Todaytix have big discount for the first couple of weeks (opens on Monday), some less than half price.
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Post by ladidah on May 17, 2024 7:25:45 GMT
Seeing this tonight - although already dreading the uncomfy benches (I need 4 cushions!)
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