English Theatre: ‘Hideously white’

In many ways the theatre and the creative arts in general should reflect the cultural essence of the nation: our dynamism, our many challenges, and our creativity. But like so many aspects of British life, such as the media, the judiciary, the army, and business boards, Black and minority ethnic individuals are generally locked out of almost every aspect of the theatre world, with the exception of cleaning them.

Publishing a report today, the nation’s best known theatre empresario, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber suggested that our theatre is ‘hideously white’.

Lloyd Webber went on to say that:

“If the situation continues, there is real danger that, not only will black and Asian young people stay away from the theatre as a profession, they will stay away as punters. And without them in the audience, theatres will become unsustainable, as they are forced to compete for a dwindling ageing, white, middle-class audience.”

The problem for would-be BME actors and the other technical professions in the industry is related to both race and class. Without getting a place with a scholarship or bursary it  makes it almost impossible for BME families to afford the top drama schools for their children.

But even if you are lucky and you do make it through, getting good roles on stage and or TV is so difficult that many of the nation’s top BME talent has had to flee to the USA just  to get recognised. The stories of International stars such as David Harewood, Idris Elba, Marianne Jean Baptise, Thandie Newman and many more have been well documented in regards to the transatlantic route to get an substantive industry foothold.

The starting point to challenge this problem the Lloyd Webber’s report makes, is to  begin with the drama schools making more places available for poorer, and more diverse backgrounds.

That’s true, but it is only a starting point. Lloyd Webber should demand a wider conversation with action plans to look at the whole industry, in particular to look at its historic nepotism, along with race and class privilege.

I remember listening to civil rights leader, Rev Jesse Jackson when he said; “America never knew just how good baseball and NFL football could be until Black people were no longer locked out".

The same could be said about the theatre and the other creative arts. This is clearly not a cul-de-sac ‘political correctness’ debate about being nice to BME individuals, this is about unleashing the creative heartbeat of our nation, from which everyone benefits.

Simon Woolley