Perhaps I’ve been living in a bubble, but its interesting to see that Asians in England share some of the same concerns about race and ethnicity as Asian Americans.
A new play opens in London October 1 titled The Fu Manchu Complex, according to the London Calling.
Daniel York and Justin Audibert created the play to challenge the “yellow peril racist stereotype,” according to a description of the play by Ovalhouse where the play is opening.
“Whilst I was speaking to people in the industry, directors, casting directors etc I received a fair few negative responses about the likelihood of being able to cast 16 East Asian actors, and several actually suggested casting white actors instead,” said Audilbert about his previous experience casting a play about China, The Sugar-Coated Bullets of the Bourgeoisie. “I was a bit dismayed by this patronizing attitude, and after duly assembling a cracking cast.”
York who is a mixed race half Chinese actors predicts many Asian will be able to relate to The Fu Manchu Complex.
“The whole portrayal of East Asians in UK theater and TV appears largely to be based on Orientalism, which many academics now view as a general patronizing Western attitude towards Middle Eastern, Asian and North African societies in the way it mystifies and renders obscure. And that’s what our play is about,” he said.
You can read more about The Fu Manchu Complex in London Calling.
