Greater than 800 Black actors got here collectively to signal an open letter decrying the “ugly abuse” directed at Francesca Amewudah-Rivers after it was introduced she’d lead a West Finish manufacturing of Romeo & Juliet reverse Tom Holland.
Spearheaded by Enola Holmes actor Susan Wokoma and Crowning Glory playwright Somalia Nonyé Seaton, the letter was revealed by The Guardian on Wednesday and noticed endorsements from stars equivalent to Lashana Lynch, Freema Agyeman and Marianne Jean-Baptiste.
The Jamie Lloyd Firm introduced Amewudah-Rivers’ position on the finish of March, and the actor quickly grew to become the goal of racist feedback on her personal Instagram submit concerning the information.
Wednesday’s response letter referred to as Amewudah-Rivers, who’s in her mid-20s, a “big rising expertise” and famous how “many people took to social media to bathe our child sis with love and congratulations — an enormous deal for somebody so younger of their profession”.
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“However then what adopted was a too acquainted horror that many people seen Black darkish skinned performers have skilled,” it continued. “The racist and misogynistic abuse directed at such a candy soul has been an excessive amount of to bear.”
“For a casting announcement of a play to ignite such twisted ugly abuse is really embarrassing for these so empty and barren in their very own lives that they have to meddle in hateful abuse.”
The message went on to thank theatre group Jamie Lloyd Firm for final week condemning the “barrage of deplorable racial abuse” the casting announcement brought on.
Amewudah-Rivers studied music at Oxford and her theatre credit embody productions of Macbeth, Antigone, Othello and Animal Farm. In 2021, she was a recipient of the Night Commonplace Future Theatre Fund. On the small display screen, she starred within the UK tv sequence Dangerous Schooling.
The letter went on to handle Amewudah-Rivers, telling the actor to “enable your self house to play and discover pleasure on this position that your exhausting work and dedication has introduced forth. We’re so excited to observe you shine.”
Ending with a message to the “the keyboard warriors who really feel discomfort in Our visibility,” it stated: “Cry on the web all you need, however We’re right here to remain.”
Selection has reported that tickets are already offered out for Romeo & Juliet’s three-month run at London’s Duke of York’s Theatre. The manufacturing will mark Amewudah-Rivers’ West Finish debut.
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