Canadian Stage's Upcoming Season Criticized For Lack Of Diversity

While Canadian Stage's just announced 2016-17 season, one celebrating Canada's 150th birthday, will include an impressive array of the country's theatre artists, the lineup is being criticized for its lack of diversity.

In addition to twelve productions originating in Canada, the season will also spotlight five shows imported from Australia; a collection that is significantly more ethnically diverse.

In an article for The Globe describing highlights of the season, which includes Jordan Tannahill's gothic suburban thriller CONCORD FLORAL, Daniel MacIvor's solo piece WHO KILLED SPAULDING GRAY and Nick Payne's CONSTELLATIONS, J. Kelly Nestruck observes, "Given the diversity to be showcased in Spotlight: Australia, it stands out that - in contrast - all the Canadian directors, playwrights and choreographers announced as part of Canadian Stage's 2016-17 season are white."

Entertainment lawyer and theatre producer Derrick Chua posts on Facebook, "some fabulous artists... but is there any Canadian involved as writer, director, translator, choreographer in Canadian Stage's season that's NOT WHITE??? Anybody???"

"I think you'll see a lot of the diversity of our casting," says artistic and general director Matthew Jocelyn, noting Canadian Stage's long history of inclusion. Black actress Cara Ricketts is currently starring in HEDDA GABLER and a black woman will star as Prospero in THE TEMPEST.

He calls the criticism "parasitic" and said the issue is a "non-argument."

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