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.

  • @[email protected]
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    7 months ago

    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
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      237 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]
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      87 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

  • Lad
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    107 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
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    97 months ago

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

  • @[email protected]
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    97 months ago

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

  • @Cyberflunk
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    87 months ago

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

  • @Jimmycakes
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    47 months ago

    They are mad because he’s white?

  • Waldowal
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    47 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,