Here is a Guardian article about Arthur Hughes, who qualifies for the role in that he is male, disabled (in a subtle way) and was only thirty when chosen by the Royal Shakespeare Company, as was Richard III in June 1483 when chosen by the Three Estates. He isn’t an octogenarian, a woman or pretending to be far more disabled than Richard was. On the other hand, as sighthound has pointed out, he has absolutely no experience of being a duke or a king.

Here is the Daily Mail’s review of the performance – note the words slanderous and scoliosis.


Subscribe to my newsletter

  1. This “only disabled actors for disabled roles” business just doesn’t stand up to common sense. To carry it through, Ariel should only be played by spirits, and Caliban by monsters. Just imagine the auditions.

    Like

    1. Yes, I’m reminded of Laurence Olivier’s wonderful admonition to Dustin Hoffman, desperately try to employ “Method” techniques in “Marathon Man” in 1976 – “My dear boy, why don’t you just try ACTING?”

      Like

  2. Please do be aware that the Guardian article is just over a year old, and the review of the play was published back in July 2022. Interestingly Arthur Hughes plays Ruarhi (Brian’s illegitimate son) in The Archers!

    Like

  3. […] actor in question is Arthur Hughes, of whom you can read more here […]

    Like

Leave a comment