‘Only Disabled actors should play Disabled roles’ says RSC Chief

The head of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Gregory Doran, has said that it is no longer acceptable for non-disabled actors to play Disabled characters. Speaking to The Times, he said: “Tony’s [Antony Sher’s 1984 RSC] performance now would probably not be acceptable… It’s the Othello syndrome, isn’t it? That moment when white actors stopped thinking of Othello in their repertoire because it was not acceptable to have blackface anymore, at least until the level playing field is achieved. It’s the same with Disabled actors and Richard.” The RSC is gearing up for a Stratford-Upon-Avon production of Richard III featuring Disabled actor, Arthur Hughes, who was recently seen in the BBC drama about 1990s disability activism, When Barbara Met Alan.