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

submitted 7 months ago by Emperor@feddit.uk to c/unitedkingdom@feddit.uk

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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.

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[-] psvrh@lemmy.ca 56 points 7 months ago* (last edited 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@lemmy.world 23 points 7 months ago

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

[-] Hugh_Jeggs@lemm.ee 9 points 7 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

[-] The_Sasswagon@beehaw.org 3 points 7 months ago

I don't understand how this play could possibly be hard to market, it's possibly the most famous English stage play with very famous people. What am I missing here?

[-] Hugh_Jeggs@lemm.ee 4 points 7 months ago

It's shakespeare. It's boring, the younger crowd aren't interested any more

Or were you hoping I'd say something racist? 😂

[-] The_Sasswagon@beehaw.org 3 points 7 months ago

Yeah, more like I worry that was your implication, it was hard to read it any other way.

I'm sure the younger crowd are just as interested in a play from 1597 as you were in the 1900s, and doubly so in Tom Holland. Seems like the tickets would sell themselves

[-] Hugh_Jeggs@lemm.ee 3 points 7 months ago

Seems like the tickets would sell themselves

Holds out Yorick's skull

Remains to be seen

[-] palordrolap@kbin.social 1 points 7 months ago

A fellow of milkable wealth.

this post was submitted on 07 Apr 2024

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