Must try harder

I recently got quite embroiled in an online discussion about the BLM movement and our response in the Arts. In particular, my work with young people means that I am in a position where I must exercise caution in terms of the material I present. I work in a rather rural community, which it has to be said, is predominantly white and middle class. Nothing wrong with that of course, but it means that as I write most of our material, I am invariably aiming at a particular audience. My latest play to be published looks at the concept of “Heroes” through the ages. I was thinking a lot about the “Me Too” movement when I wrote it. All of the characters that feature are white. I regret this of course, but I have to also realise that had I included a black character from history, that I would have ended up casting a white actor in that role, something that I obviously want to avoid. From a writing perspective, I like to leave many of my characters to be as wide open to casting as possible. Gender blindness has created some really interesting responses in the production of my work to date, and is something of which I am very proud. However, ethnicity is a much bigger challenge for me, and one which I am going to be giving a lot of consideration moving forward.