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Leading Theatre Director Accuses Able-Bodied Actors of Playing Disabled Characters

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Jenny Sealey, the artistic director of Graeae Theatre Company, has criticized able-bodied actors for taking on disabled roles and argued that deaf and disabled people should be given the opportunity to play those characters instead. Her comments come in the wake of controversy surrounding the casting of a non-disabled actor as Richard III at Shakespeare's Globe. Sealey, who co-directed the Paralympic Games opening ceremony in 2012, expressed her frustration with the slow progress in representation.

A leading theatre director has accused able-bodied actors of 'creeping up' and playing disabled characters . Jenny Sealey , who co-directed the opening ceremony for the Paralympic Games in 2012, said deaf and disabled people should get to play those roles instead. The 61-year-old is artistic director of Graeae Theatre Company , which is composed of deaf and disabled artists.

Her comments follow the recent backlash over Shakespeare's Globe casting a non-disabled actor to play Richard III, who suffered from the spinal condition scoliosis. Able-bodied stars who have played the king in the past include Laurence Olivier, Ian McKellen, Kevin Spacey and Kenneth Branagh. Ms Sealey, who has been deaf since the age of seven, told Desert Island Discs: 'It's a whole series of a few steps, or wheels, forward and a hundred back. 'We have been making some fantastic in-road

Source: News Formal (newsformal.com)

Theatre Director Able-Bodied Actors Disabled Characters Jenny Sealey Graeae Theatre Company Deaf Disabled Richard III Controversy Representation

 

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