‘White males hog the SA theatre spotlight’
Former Rhodes University lecturer and award-winning playwright, actor and film director Andrew Buckland, says financial and economic capital often give white performers in the arts the upper hand – something he hopes to help change.
Buckland, who was on Sunday awarded the Fleur du Cap theatre award for best performance by a lead actor in a play, for his role in Endgame, acknowledged the fact that he was a “white male” may have played a part in his success.
He said he was working with marginalised groups, including female performers and members of the LGBTI community, to help bring about change in the industry.
“I’m quite conscious at [award] events like that – when people are recognising the work that I do – that I acknowledge the fact that I’ve been able to get to these positions where I can have the opportunities that I have, because I was born white and male.
“That I consequently inherited a great deal [of] privilege. I’m conscious of that and I need to acknowledge that,” Buckland said on Tuesday.
“So part of my work is to try change that status quo, so that it’s not the case anymore and to level the playing field – and I suppose I was working very hard to try do that when I was teaching.”
Buckland said even two decades into democracy, the present state of affairs had not changed and some people were still struggling for recognition.
“I’m prompted to say things because of my contact with young, mostly black and female and often LGBTI people , who come into the learning space to work in the theatre – they often find it difficult.
“In the past, and often now, white people coming in have social capital . . . they often have financial and economic capital to rely on to give them different opportunities.
“And still, today, the majority of the black students that are new to theatre do not have access to any of that.
“So, those things have not changed because while policy has changed, implementation has not been very effective,” Buckland said.
Fleur du Cap awards chair Melanie Burke said: “I have been responsible for these awards as chair for the last seven years.
“I was brought on board after some very contentious occurrences after what was perceived at the time as a lack of transformation in the industry.
“So I think the reason why I think these awards are so amazing this year is because people have all acknowledged that the space has been opened up.
Burke likened the awards to SA’s equivalent of the prestigious Tony awards in the US.
Two artists who hail from Port Elizabeth, Lukhanyiso Skosana and Gareth Hewitt Williams, were also announced as winners on the night.
Skosana was announced as the winner in the best original music performance for her work in the play Womb of Fire, while Williams was victorious in the best lighting design category.
Burke said Williams, who is in London, accepted his award in absentia.
“[But] I actually spoke to Lukhanyiso at the awards and it was so incredible to talk to her,” Burke said.
“She was talking about how it felt to be seen and heard because you hardly see her on the stage [during the play].
“She was this still presence who made the soundtrack with her voice, that carried the story so incredibly.
“So, you can just imagine the competition she had against sound design for big productions that have music and orchestras – and she just used her voice,” Burke said.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
This article is reserved for HeraldLIVE subscribers.
A subscription gives you full digital access to all our content.
Already subscribed? Simply sign in below.
Already registered on DispatchLIVE, BusinessLIVE, TimesLIVE or SowetanLIVE? Sign in with the same details.
Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@heraldlive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.