Comments on: Diversity in theatre – It sure is white-bred around here

By: megan

megan — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 23:53:38 +0000

@Larry – I’m not talking about raw numbers or proportions of theatre goers within communities, but rather, proportions within audiences and on stage. I’m also not talking about a black and white issue. The truth is in a city that is almost half visible minorities (maybe already more than half, I don’t know), it’s pretty rare to see any visible minority on stage.

I have no doubt that there are tons of “GOOD black actors” that are unemployed. I also have no doubt that there are tons of GOOD white actors that are unemployed, and all sorts of other races. I mean, really, it’s acting, it’s not really an industry that is known for it’s high rate of employment. So, I’m not really sure what the point of exploring that road is.

I highly encourage you to read the post that was posted after this one, the re-print of the article by Richard Ouzounian from over 4 years ago. It has some interesting numbers in it.

By: Larry

Larry — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 23:45:09 +0000

Black people don’t come to theatre? But how many whites do? What is their status? Are they so diverse?
There are too few black actors on the Canadian stages? How many GOOD black actors are unemployed? How many whites?
Don’t be obsessed with race. It is too much already.

By: dantallion

dantallion — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:37:13 +0000

I suspect marketing does play a role – as does the tendency for people to seek out entertainment that they’re more likely to identify with culturally. Unfortunate, that, because I bet that most would identify more with other cultures & communities than they might think…

By: megan

megan — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:44:19 +0000

Hi Philip – Yeah, Richard corrected me on that, it’s changed in the article above.

By: Philip Akin

Philip Akin — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:30:47 +0000

Ah one other final thing. Black actors have played Othello before down in Stratford. They just weren’t Canadian.

By: Philip Akin

Philip Akin — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:29:42 +0000

The hard fact of cultural niche theatre is that people from one place come to see shows about that place. Not shows of other places. There will be a small number who will grow bolder or who love theatre and will go and see other things but by and large it has to be a particular show to grab people. Intimate Apparel was a cross over type show but The Monument wasn’t.

So it’s either keep making theatre or head off to Casino Rama. The odds are pretty much the same in both places.