Festival bans play because it cast an able-bodied actor as a disabled character – forcing theatre company to rewrite the whole script
- Studio Orka chose to change the character to someone recovering from injury
- Festival’s policy was to ensure disabled actors given priority for disabled roles
- Artistic director of Studio Orka, Martine Decroos, said the compromise had been made ‘in the right way’
A theatre company has been forced to rewrite a play on the eve of its premiere after a Manchester festival banned them from having an able-bodied actor playing a disabled character.
Studio Orka, a Belgian theatre company, chose to change the character in their show Tuesday to someone recovering from a serious injury – prior to it’s premiere at the Manchester International Festival.
Festival boss John McGrath said its policy was to ensure disabled actors were given priority for disabled roles and create ‘authentic representation.’
He told The Stage: ‘As co-commissioners, when we became aware in a run-through in Belgium that a disabled character in Tuesday would be played by a non-disabled actor, we asked for the part to be recast as it is against MIF’s policies for a non-disabled actor to play the role of a disabled person.
Studio Orka, a Belgian theatre company, chose to change the character in their show Tuesday to someone recovering from a serious injury – prior to it’s premiere at the Manchester International Festival. Pictured, an image from a different show called INUK
‘Studio Orka, whose work is devised with its actors, felt this would not be possible and suggested the character be changed to someone who has a serious injury and makes a full recovery over time.
‘While we felt this wasn’t ideal, we agreed to this change to ensure that the show, of which we are in general very proud and which has many wonderful elements – including the involvement of a large community cast – could go ahead.’
Artistic director of Studio Orka, Martine Decroos, said the compromise had been made ‘in the right way.’
The production will run at St Augustine’s Church in Pendlebury until July 21.