London - A London theatre has cancelled a scheduled performance
of the opera "The Golden Dragon," some of which takes place in an
Asian restaurant, because the production featured an all-white cast.
The Hackney Empire said it had cancelled the performance by Music
Theatre Wales, scheduled on October 31, after "much discussion and
debate around the casting of non-Asian singers."
"Hackney Empire sits at the forefront of the debate on diversity in
the arts and, along with many other theatres, is totally committed to
reflecting the diverse population of the UK on its stage," the
theatre said in a statement.
"The debate aroused by the non-Asian casting in 'The Golden Dragon'
compromises the Empire's commitment and position as a champion of
diversity and accessibility across the theatre industry," it said.
Music Theatre Wales apologized for "mistakes" in staging the opera.
"Having chosen to stage this work - an operatic adaptation of a
German play, partly set in a pan-Asian restaurant - we now recognize
that we did not discharge in a sensitive way our responsibility to
the communities it depicts," the company said.
"Featuring Caucasian singers as performers playing multiple roles,
some of whom are specified as Asian characters, has caused offence,"
it said, adding that the practice was "still widespread within the
opera world."
It promised to "move forward as an active contributor in building
relationships that will initiate and guide change across the sector."