RepresentAsian: An Evening of Asian Talent
So I had the privilege to go and watch a fantastic, brilliant and inspiring variety show of some the most talented Asian performers in the Musical Theatre industry today!
The show was being performed in the Phoenix Arts Club in Soho London. This show was created and produced to highlight and showcase Asian talent and the under representation there is of Asian performers in the performing arts industry. It was so inspiring and beautiful to be a spectator of the talent on that stage last night. However it sparked emotions in me that i never knew i felt so deeply.
One of the performers sang one of the most popular musical theatre songs of all time "Defying Gravity" from the hit musical Wicked. Whilst she was singing, it just made me think why hasn't there been more Asian women play the role? Why over 15 years of the show being performed in London Uk, has the majority of Elphaba's been caucasian women? If anything a women of colour will understand a relate to Elphaba's struggles, due to feeling ostracized, an outsider, not belonging and overall looking different. It made me feel frustrated with an industry that i am part of and love so much.
However, In my humble opinion the industry is changing for the better and has made improvements when it comes to casting in musicals, however we still have so far to go. I enjoyed the performances last night and desperately want to see these performers in leading roles within the west end. I can't wait for the day where events like this, are not organized solely because of underrepresentation.
Talent in my opinion is talent!
Witnessing such a event just charged me further in my inquiry on casting within my professional practice which is currently musical theatre.
Many of the performers who performed were born from Asian countries and moved to London to pursue their dream of being in a musical within the West End. One of the women only moved to London 3 months ago from South Korea and it just made me reflect on how privileged i have been to have been born in the Uk and grow up in London, where i am surrounded by culture and world class theatre.
Casting within musical theatre is so important and influential. Representation needs to be one of the key factors when casting a show. Theatre needs to be a place where anyone can feel welcome, included and seen.
Anyways back to the research on the world wide web!
Until next time
CG xoxo
This is very interesting and very important that now it's being spoken about. However (maybe I'm just a bit niave) but why does it even have to be a thing ya know.... Why can't they just be cast?
ReplyDeleteIt's like when strictly and Dancing on Ice had same sex couples dancing together....why does it have to be a "thing" ....?
Loved this one Chloe! During one of my focus groups this very thing came up and we spoke for a while about our disbelief and frustration that we're still seeing things like the first black women to be cast as Christine in Phantom or Glinda in Wicked. In 2021! Progress in this industry is far too slow and I think the industry is far too quick to congratulate itself on it's strides towards inclusivity (which is good obviously) but there is so much more to be done. There's still so much dodgy language used in castings even! And I agree with Clare, it's rubbish that they are 'things' even though it's all just a reflection of the world we live in. There's this interview with Amber Gray (talking about being a working mother)and they chat about something having to 'be a thing before it can not be a thing anymore'. But yeah, its annoying!
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