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I desperately want to contribute to the casting discourse going on in Scot Theatre Land, but I don’t have the energy for anything hugely empowering or articulate. So here’s a few things I want to send into The Void, and that’s all I have the capacity for. (1/9)
As a non-RCS grad, let me firstly say the lack of acknowledgment/ appreciation for folks who trained via “alternative” routes is ASTOUNDING. On several jobs + countless casting situations, I’ve had first hand experience being perceived lesser, regardless of experience on cv.(2/9)
That shit needs to get nipped in the bud, we’re all tired of it. I don’t know how you fix this ingrained prejudice, that’s for smarter people than me. What I will say is this issue seems rather unique to Scotland. (3/9)
Our industry has a real, serious, embedded issue with favouritism. I know myself and many peers feel that we need to fight harder + prove more because of where we chose to train. I haven’t experienced this subconscious vitriol towards training roots south of the border. (4/9)
As I said, almost unique to Scotland because there is one “drama school”, so it’s placed above and beyond other routes + all large theatres prioritise engagement with those grads, and barely consider collaborating with grads from “non-traditional” routes. (5/9)
There are exceptions, of course. I was lucky enough to benefit from a placement with a company and a family I hold very dear @bardbotanics, who actively engaged with my college in tandem with RCS. Through this, I was given my first pro jobs + invaluable experiences. (6/9)
Ok, moving on to separate thoughts that deserve time in the limelight. Giving one casting director a considerable and unhealthy monopoly on scot theatre casting is completely unnecessary and only serves to reinforce casting cliques and favouritism. (7/9)
So, stop that. Thanks. Similarly, big theatre houses have been using lip service open castings to virtue signal how “accessible” they are before returning religiously to the same closed-door casting policies. Engage more with performers you don’t know...(8/9)
Audition folks from lesser known agents and devote more time to seeing and collaborating with new faces. It’s not hard. Seriously. That’s all for now, I think. I love Scot Theatre dearly, but it really needs to reshape + get its act together. (9/9)
Perhaps quite telling that my first thought RE this thread is - will probably lose work over this! That sort of power hold is what prevents industry standards from being held to account. Only way forward is together X
