The Golden Dragon, a production by Music Theatre Wales is being condemned for yellowface casting.
According to the Music Theatre Wales website, The Golden Dragon is a part-comedy, part-tragedy set in a pan-Asian restaurant. The story “follows the story of a Chinese immigrant working illegally in the kitchen.”
However, according to the ‘Cast & Characters’ section of the website, no Asian actors have been cast to play the Asian characters.
Lucy Schaufer has been cast as the “Chinese mother”, Andrew Mackenzie Wicks plays a “young Asian” and “Chinese aunt”, and Johnny Herford plays “an Asian” and “Chinese uncle”.
People have since taken to Twitter to express their outrage.
Rebecca Boey wrote, “This cast and characters breakdown is good value if White-actors-playing-Chinese does it for you #undeniable #yellowface @MTW_tweets“
Jennifer Lim Tweeted, “The practise of #yellowface in any art form is disrespectful, irresponsible and downright shameful! @MTW_tweets #goldendragon“
“If #TheGoldenDragon is set in a “pan-African” restaurant/takeaway, would it be acceptable to have an entire white cast #blackface?” Red Dragonfly Theatre asked.
This cast and characters breakdown is good value if White-actors-playing-Chinese does it for you #undeniable #yellowface @MTW_tweets pic.twitter.com/G4PqeUhxXp
— Rebecca Boey (@becboey) October 3, 2017
The practise of #yellowface in any art form is disrespectful, irresponsible and downright shameful! @MTW_tweets #goldendragon
— Jennifer Lim (@xanadujenn) October 3, 2017
Yes, I would agree that #yellowface in 2017 is grotesque, gruesome, bizarre and quite frankly, a bloody disgrace… https://t.co/QHJU1RHv9v
— Matt Jones (@Matt_CJones) October 3, 2017
If #TheGoldenDragon is set in a “pan-African” restaurant/takeaway, would it be acceptable to have an entire white cast #blackface?
— RedDragonfly Theatre (@RDProd_Theatre) October 3, 2017
‘Post-Brechtian’ seems to be the go to phrase for tone-deaf racist castings. @MTW_tweets #GoldenDragon https://t.co/DA10X319LA
— Gabby Wong (@WhatWent_Wong) October 3, 2017
.However pple wanna spin this it’s #Yellowface pure & simple & it is not acceptable in any shape or form on a UK stage in 21st c Britain
— BEAA (@BEAsianArtists) October 4, 2017
Music Theatre Wales has since released a statement on Facebook in response to the criticism.
“The original play, and the opera on which it is based, is post-Brechtian story-telling: the cast narrate the story and introduce the multiple characters they are about to play,” the statement reads.
“Quite deliberately, there is no realism.”
However, statement from the production company has not gone down well with Twitter users.
“Oh it’s all ok because they’ve now explained that it’s post-Brechtian and not realism, so, silly us for being offended,” Rebecca Boey sarcastically wrote.
Ruth Scott also doesn’t buy the production’s claim of artistic merit, “they can’t excuse blatant discrimination by saying it’s an artistic choice? it’s lazy and unoriginal casting is what it is.”
Oh it’s all ok because they’ve now explained that it’s post-Brechtian and not realism, so, silly us for being offended
— Rebecca Boey (@becboey) October 3, 2017
Sadly yes! Was finding it grimly funny until they released a weak statement defending it on the grounds of ‘fable’ and Brecht. #Printroom2
— Rebecca Boey (@becboey) October 3, 2017
I am a Chinese mother, also a Chinese aunt, I might also be ‘An Asian’. I’m definitely real, I don’t exist as a vehicle for fables
— hazeltsoiwiles (@hazeltsoiwiles) October 3, 2017
??? they can’t excuse blatant discrimination by saying it’s an artistic choice? it’s lazy and unoriginal casting is what it is 😡😡
— Ruth Scott (@GirlCalledRuth) October 3, 2017
.totally unacceptable in 21st century UK culture
— BEAA (@BEAsianArtists) October 3, 2017
