Doran: RSC 'consciously looked' for diverse actors
The Royal Shakespeare Company鈥檚 Gregory Doran on the importance of "lived experience" in casting roles.
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) "wouldn't have known the talent that is there" if it had not "consciously looked" for diverse actors, the company鈥檚 artistic director emeritus has told the 麻豆社.
Gregory Doran, cast Arthur Hughes, who has a disability, to play the title role in Shakespeare's Richard III, who was disabled.
When asked by the 麻豆社 Hardtalk programme's Stephen Sackur how important "lived experience" is in terms of casting roles, Doran said non-disabled actors could still play Richard III and 鈥渘or do I think we have to have an obese alcoholic play Falstaff or a Scottish murderer play Macbeth.鈥�
But because of Hughes's "lived experience of disability... when those insults land on Richard, they're not landing on an actor wearing a prosthetic, they're landing on an actor who from birth has lived with prejudice,鈥� Doran said.
Doran also said it was also no longer appropriate for white actors to play black characters, saying the company "made an absolute policy" that the actor playing Shakespeare's Othello must be black.
Doran retired from being artistic director of the RSC earlier this year after a decade in the job. He will leave the company next year after 36 years.
The current production of Richard III starring Arthur Hughes runs until 8 October.
