Re: panto race debate
On another note, and I might be playing devil's advocate a little, but it seems a little bit too strong to suggest by not casting a Chinese/ oriental actor in the role is 'racist' which is what the original poster was referring to (as in this is what the article overtly implied). This article also said Widow Twankey was part of the racism. I find it hard to believe directors are there making decisions purely based on the fact 'yeah, we'll have them, they're white' - I saw the statement by the producers and they did say it was down to the fact they cast the Harpers in every panto they have done so far (just like Clive and Danny in Newcastle) and this was the most suitable role. I also think pantomime needs suspension of disbelief - overall, we see pantomime as set in 'panto land' - not actually in mainland China. Peking for example doesn't technically exist anymore, and it isn't inconceivable to have white people as 'Chinese policemen' in real life - there are plenty of Chinese policemen in Britain who are classed as 'British Policemen' because of where they work in the world not according to their heritage. I love diversity, and I think we are making good headway in the arts industry - Alex Belfield recently tried to stir s**t on this very topic, and Beverly Knight brought him down a peg or two to defend the industry. Let's not create issues where none may exist - our focus well and truly deserves to be on the atrocities in America and the systemic racism in our country as a whole. Please do not get me wrong, I have not seen statistics, I have not been in rooms where casting decisions have been made but my judgement would say this is not intentional racism.
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