So what do we think about Snow White pantos that DON'T use children as the dwarfs?

[TherewasnoMOOMattheINn]

I was a bit unsettled to see adult actors as the dwarfs, all with restricted growth. Don't know why I should feel this way really except I was thinking if I had a child with Achondroplasia or restricted growth how would I feel about perceptions of my child's condition if most people's only exposure to it is at the panto, rather than in everday life in the workplace, school, whatever...

Dh thought I was being a bit over-sensitive and pointed out that none of the actors were there by force and they were making a good living (we don't actually know this is the case though). My MIL thought I was being a bit pc about it when I mentioned it (she reads the Daily Mail though so we do tend to differ somewhat in our views ). Dh also said that if pantos stopped using actors with restricted growth, then the exsisting actors wouldn't even get these gigs, so they'd be worse off.

Is it patronising of me to be even worried by it? Why should it even be an issue for me (because it is)? What's the general MN consensus?

Theatres that dont "use" children employ adults.
Child performers in panto are oten only paid pocket money or a christmas present, they miss a chunk of school and are expected to behave with more professional disipline than most adult actors.
Adult actors of what ever height are paid a resonable wage ( Equity min is well above national min wage)
its the child dancers who are being "used", their dance schools will have pretended its a big treat and only for the best, rather than the reality that its only for those whos parents are willing to give up a family christmas so their dd can be 3rd dancing star on teh right.

An old colleague of my mum and his wife are both dwarves (and happy to use the term and encourage others to do so). They know quite a few other people who have the condition who work in the film/theatre industry, a few years ago they suffered terrible trouble getting work as it was perceived as being un-pc to exploit them by employing them to act in roles of dwarves.

I find this argument that dwarves shouldn't be cast as dwarves quite extraordinary. It's the complete opposite of everything else that is thought of as PC. Imagine suggesting that a black actor shouldn't be cast in a black role for fear of typecasting or something? Yes, of course it would be good if there were more varied roles available, but I'm sure like most actors these peopple are glad to make a living.

you are being patronising.

These are adults, just because they have a disability doesn't mean they are incapable of deciding for themselves whether or not they would like to become actors. Dwarfism is a physical disability, they are capable of deciding for themselves whether or not they would like to play these parts, what is exploytive about that?

And surely no-one knows how to play the role of a dwarf than ... er... a dwarf? Always makes me when I've seen the visually impaired portrayed in films, being played by a sighted person who obviously has no idea about visual impairment other than the time they've maybe spent reading up about it, and them saying things like "can I feel your face" . Maybe someone would like to pay me thousands to play the roles instead .

This thread makes me feel all weird - because my 18 month old son is a "dwarf".

I agree with everyone who has said that I don't see a problem as long as the actors aren't being exploited. If my son decided that he wanted to do acting, and that then he wanted to audition for Snow White, then what is the problem? It's a well-known fact in the dwarf community that most dwarfs have higher than average intelligence so it's not as if acting is the only thing open to them nowadays. There is one man, Tom Shakespeare, who is professor in bioethics I think it is in Newcastle. Many others have very distinguished careers as lawyers, doctors...

My nephew...who is 18 has acondraplasia (dwarf).....He loves acting....and had a wonderful time playing...santas 'little' helper last year....
He has also apeared in sex education films....So NO....he has NOT been exploited...he loved it...just wish he could do more.

MH I think you got the first message of 2008!

I was at college with Tom Shakespeare.
blimey he was gorgeous.
and soooooo clever.
and a baronet or summat iirc

x post with MH
I think we are all agreed Tom Shakespeare is lush

Just you wait til my ds grows up, he will break a few hearts

Not sure how this relates to the original post as I've been busy celebrating tonight, so probably not much really.
I've been a big motor racing fan for many years and there was a family the 'Raineys' who were brilliant racing drivers, particularly in the hillclimb field.
They had and indeed still have the utmost respect from the motor racing community for their speed and commitment.
You wouldn't want to race against the Raineys, they'd almost certainly beat you.
Gordon

They are actors and need to rrearn a living so I should think they are happy to play these roles.

I saw a recent Snow White with adult dwarves. I got annoyed with a teenager sat in front of me who every rime they came on lept saying ' aaah bless them they are soo cute!'. I found that really patronising but put it down to her age.
Troughout the whole panto though they were never referred to as dwarves. Is that an un-pc term now?
I think fair play to them if they are happy to do it, take the money and run!

HAtrick- glad you nephew enjoyed his panto role. Sounds like it was quite a short run tho. I'm used to working on pantos that start in first week of dec,then do 2 or 3 shows a day till mid Jan. The kids used on those shows miss a lot of school even with 2 teams of kids rotating.
Tom Shakespeare- is he the chap who wrote/writes a coloum for BBC ouch webpage, a cricket lover IIRC.
To get back on topic. Had you come to see one panto I worked on ( not snow white) you would have found a dwarf usher working front of house and his equally short sister on work experience back stage. I have also worked with a couple of technicians under 5 ft tall.

THank you for all replies and opinions to my OP- I've taken it all on board and concede that I was being patronising, although this was most certainly not my intention.