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‘Romeo & Juliet’ Play Starring Tom Holland and Francesca Amewaduh-Rivers Faces ‘Barrage of Racial Abuse,’ Producer Says ‘This Must Stop’ (variety.com)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

13 comments fedilink hide all child comments

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/13958294

The Jamie Lloyd Company has hit back after its production of Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet” has been the subject of what they call a “barrage of deplorable racial abuse” aimed at an unnamed cast member.

The play, directed by Jamie Lloyd (“Sunset Boulevard”), stars “Spider-Man: No Way Home” star Tom Holland as Romeo and Francesca Amewaduh-Rivers (“Sex Education”) as Juliet.

On Friday, the Jamie Lloyd Company issued a statement, saying: “Following the announcement of our ‘Romeo & Juliet’ cast, there has been a barrage of deplorable racial abuse online directed towards a member of our company. This must stop.”

...

“Romeo & Juliet” is due to play at London’s Duke of York’s Theatre May 23 through Aug. 3. The run is already sold out.

top 13 comments

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[–] [email protected] 51 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (2 children)

Let’s be honest: none of the people complaining about race in an adaptation of a Shakespeare play are going to go and see a Shakespeare play.

[–] 9point6 23 points 5 months ago

I doubt anyone complaining even formed their views themselves, rather just told what views to have by some "free thinker" con man

[–] [email protected] 8 points 5 months ago

And let's be honest, any intelligent marketing person would use even a single comment to try and get attention for their, ahem, difficult-to-market play

[–] [email protected] 29 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Wait until these people hear that Juliet used to be played by a man

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Wait until they find out she’s only 13.

[–] Illuminostro 4 points 5 months ago

On the contrary, that's the best part for them.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 5 months ago

You don't have to constantly justify or rationalise having ethnic minorities in your production. I kind of wish they'd just release a statement saying "fuck off racist scum" instead of the pitiful sounding hakuna matata stuff.

[–] njm1314 9 points 5 months ago

I agree it's a damn travesty that Tom Holland is trying to play an Italian boy

[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 months ago

Romeo and Juliet aren't the stars, they're the vehicle. Mercutio and Tybalt are the stars of the play.

[–] Cyberflunk 8 points 5 months ago

Out the harassers. Publish their hate, find them, talk to their families, jobs. Make. Them. Famous.

[–] Jimmycakes 4 points 5 months ago

They are mad because he's white?

[–] Waldowal 4 points 5 months ago

It's clearly there in the first lines of the play:

Two households, both alike in dignity and whiteness, In fair Verona where we lay our scene,