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Black actors get a raw deal in British theatre, Rufus Norris warns Black actors get a raw deal in British theatre, Rufus Norris warns
(4 months later)
Rufus Norris, one of the UK's top theatre directors, has criticised the way that black actors are cast, arguing that Britain lags far behind the US.Rufus Norris, one of the UK's top theatre directors, has criticised the way that black actors are cast, arguing that Britain lags far behind the US.
Norris made the comments following the opening night of his latest National theatre production, The Amen Corner, which features an all-black cast. Marianne Jean-Baptiste leads the company in her first performance in Britain since emigrating to Los Angeles 10 years ago.Norris made the comments following the opening night of his latest National theatre production, The Amen Corner, which features an all-black cast. Marianne Jean-Baptiste leads the company in her first performance in Britain since emigrating to Los Angeles 10 years ago.
Norris told the BBC that black actors were often denied a shot at roles played by their white colleagues. "In America, there is much more colour-blind casting," he said.Norris told the BBC that black actors were often denied a shot at roles played by their white colleagues. "In America, there is much more colour-blind casting," he said.
A number of high-profile actors, including Morgan Freeman and Homeland star David Harewood, have previously argued that black British actors need to leave the UK because of limited opportunities. Freeman told the Telegraph last year that the British film industry "needs to catch up with the time".A number of high-profile actors, including Morgan Freeman and Homeland star David Harewood, have previously argued that black British actors need to leave the UK because of limited opportunities. Freeman told the Telegraph last year that the British film industry "needs to catch up with the time".
Arguably British theatre is doing exactly that. Several prominent forthcoming productions feature all-black companies, including August Wilson's Fences in the West End, starring Lenny Henry, and the Menier Chocolate Factory's musical version of The Colour Purple.Arguably British theatre is doing exactly that. Several prominent forthcoming productions feature all-black companies, including August Wilson's Fences in the West End, starring Lenny Henry, and the Menier Chocolate Factory's musical version of The Colour Purple.
However Norris, who also directed an all-black cast in Feast at the Young Vic earlier this year, argued that this doesn't go far enough.However Norris, who also directed an all-black cast in Feast at the Young Vic earlier this year, argued that this doesn't go far enough.
"I think it's fantastic that those shows are happening and that is a small part of the thing that David and other black actors talk about, but the real issue is that if you look at American TV drama and theatre, there is much more colour-blind casting," he said."I think it's fantastic that those shows are happening and that is a small part of the thing that David and other black actors talk about, but the real issue is that if you look at American TV drama and theatre, there is much more colour-blind casting," he said.
"In normal life if you think of a businessman or a policeman or a gangster, there are certain cliches that go with all of those things and none of them are true."In normal life if you think of a businessman or a policeman or a gangster, there are certain cliches that go with all of those things and none of them are true.
"We are very much behind America in that sense and I think what Marianne was talking about when she left Britain to go and live in LA a long time ago, is still very true. It's the way we cast black actors.""We are very much behind America in that sense and I think what Marianne was talking about when she left Britain to go and live in LA a long time ago, is still very true. It's the way we cast black actors."
Norris, who grew up in Nigeria and has been tipped as a potential successor to the National theatre boss Nicholas Hytner, directed a production of Wole Soyinka's Death and the King's Horseman in 2009 that featured black actors in whiteface playing British colonialists.Norris, who grew up in Nigeria and has been tipped as a potential successor to the National theatre boss Nicholas Hytner, directed a production of Wole Soyinka's Death and the King's Horseman in 2009 that featured black actors in whiteface playing British colonialists.
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