Equity UK and Arts Council England Take Issue with Trevor Nunn's Whitewashed Historical Shakespearean Play

Director Trevor Nunn has become involved in a quarrel over his casting of WAR OF THE ROSES at the Rose Theatre in Kingston.

A condensation of four Shakespearean plays, the piece has received criticism from both Equity UK and Arts Council England because of the large cast's lack of diversity. Saying the casting of this production is "whitewashing" history, current Equity president Malcolm Sinclair said, "Whilst wishing every individual actor in the production well, can it be acceptable best practice in 2015 to cast a project such as this with 22 actors but not one actor of colour or who apparently identifies themselves as having a disability?"

Sir Nunn responded to the criticism, pointing out that he has made the "artistic decision" to cast this particular show as historically accurate. "I cast, whenever possible, according to the principle of diversity," Nunn says.

"The connections between the characters, and hence the narrative of the plays, are extremely complex, and so everything possible must be done to clarify for an audience who is related by birth to whom." Nunn continues. "Hence, I decided that, in this instance, these considerations should take precedence over my usual diversity inclination."

Regardless of Nunn's desire for historical accuracy, Arts Council England would still prefer for casting choices to represent modern culture. Their Executive Director Simon Mellor says, "Whilst we do not fund the Rose Theatre, we expect organisations we fund to actively ensure their programme, and the artists that create it, reflect the people of contemporary England."

Mellor continues, "This production seems out of step with most of British theatre where casting that ignores an actor's race is increasingly the norm."

Read the full article on the matter here.