Scores of actresses turn down roles in play critical of JK Rowling’s gender views.

[lechiffre55]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/06/13/scores-actresses-turn-down-roles-play-critical-jk-rowling

"The stage production, which is set to debut at the Edinburgh Fringe, has already caused outrage over a working title which labelled the gender-critical Harry Potter author a c----."

"The production is yet to cast any of the female roles, including that of Rowling herself."

"Actors have been found for male leads, who will portray Harry Potter cast members Rupert Grint and Daniel Radcliffe."

I don't think a scriptwriter is required. They could just use transcripts from various employment tribunals

I'm pretty certain this has already been done at least once - I recall seeing mention of a small production (on the same sort of scale as this) a year or two ago. I think it was Mermaids vs LGB Alliance. Can't find it now though.

I.dont know, but I think he's been mixing laundry. Some of those scanties looked very dingy.

Yep.

Women will pick up on the risks and threats to career and social standing in associating with this. Which is why we're seeing a lot fewer pronouns in the wild.

Genderpish is well past its sell by date.

Freda would do it!

What wouldn't Freda do?

Has India not put his hat in the ring yet? I’m have thought he’d jump at the opportunity to play JKR

I can't imagine India taking direction well. Or indeed most transwomen. I think that could be a problem. They seem to so often be more the "one-man play" personality ...

Oh absolutely - but given this seems to be nothing more than a slagging off of JKR they’d probably let him do his worst dame in the name of acting, dahhling. Whether enough people would actually pay to see him is another matter.

Let’s hope the 23 day booking at the theatre was very expensive.

I think we should start work on a script for next year's fringe. Working title "cishetnormative Barry and the uncooperative womb holders" the cast will be entirely trans, non-binary and GNC.

Might be a job getting any variation in tone. I imagine it would be non-stop whining.

I suppose you could introduce some ranting for a change every so often.

I see the mail online is now running this story. Good good.

Just thinking if they do manage to get anyone to join they won't have much time to learn their lines. Shame, damn shame.

Decorum.

Weird how there are plenty of female actors for JKR's play and huge audiences for it. In America the Cursed Child is going on National tour while continuing to play to sold out audiences in New York:
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Full-Cast-Set-For-The-National-Tour-Of-HARRY-POTTER-AND-THE-CURSED-CHILD-20240610

Meanwhile JKR has now licenced playsets of the Cursed Child for school drama so schools can put it on:
https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/dedicated-website-launched-for-harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-secondary-school-edition-302169851.html

JKR's play has sold over 10 million tickets worldwide since its world premiere in London in July 2016 and holds a record 60 major honors, with nine Laurence Olivier Awards including Best New Play and six Tony Awards including Best Play.

I would LOVE to read the script.

Given the premise of the play is the three child actors staging an intervention on JKR, I can only imagine the ending is some feverish wank fantasy of JKR completely abasing herself and begging for forgiveness.

If the script ever leaks we have to do a read through.

I assume they're turning down the opportunity after seeing the script? It must be really awful, given how much actresses struggle to find parts.

Lots of people, including women, still happy to criticise JKR on Twitter. Funny that they can't find anyone brave enough to do it in real life.

I would wager that the script is not, in fact, "terrific".

Ah, I love you wims. This thread has been a joy 😂

Like others, I can't understand why the producers can't see that they have a wide talent (<cough>) pool to draw from. Not only the original actors of Watson, Radcliffe and Grint - how better to put your money where your mouth is AND support lunatic fringe theatre - but Windy, Freda, and Izzard, to name but a few.

It would be quite the sight to behold.

@Shortpoet Haha I'd like to read it too.

I'd wager that because it's written be a raging misogynist the male parts are fully fleshed out and the female parts have the depth and intelligence of a paper cutout.

I looked up the playwright. His previous play was about his difficult relationship with his mother.

He certainly seems to have a theme ...

Lighten it up with a few musical numbers and some trans joy from Jordan Gray

I'm suddenly reminded of this thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womensrights/5066699-transwimen-actors-call-for-trans-quota-quota-for-female-roles

To be fair I suspect that for Emma Watson there is little to choose between the two.

I wonder what the playset for Cursed Child is like. I mean, if any suggestions have been given for how a school could stage it successfully, because a lot of how the play works relies on effects. Some of which I can think of alternative ways to suggest on on a simple stage with a standard lighting rig & sound system & props etc (& bear in mind it’s about 20 years since I was playing with such things so doubtless most schools will have far ✨fancier✨ offerings than what I used to use, even the New & Shiny set-up as I was leaving school). Others, though… 🤔

(And I realise it’s been on stage for about a decade but also that not everyone’s seen it so I’m not going into detail because it’s possibly the most beautiful making of theatre in the literal sense I’ve ever seen & I’d not steal that absolute joy from anyone).

Same here! HORRIBLE!