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West End's Hunchback of Notre Dame in row over casting a non-disabled actor as Quasimodo - but others insist: 'Didn't it used to be called acting?'
The production company putting on a show for the Hunchback of Notre Dame has faced criticism over its decision to cast a non-disabled actor as its lead.
Jack Maple Productions came under fire after critics claimed that casting an actor without a physical impairment as the lead role of Quasimodo was an example of 'ableism'.
Equity, the performing arts trade union, states that its policy is to 'support the casting of a deaf or disabled artist in deaf or disabled character roles,' and that 'the decision not to cast a physically disabled actor' goes against its principles.
The show will be held at the Prince Edward Theatre in London's West End and the role of Quasimodo will be shared by Ben Joyce and Oliver Hewing, who is deaf and will be providing a British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation of the performance.
In the original production, Quasimodo is portrayed as having a severe hunchback, along with being partially blind and described as deaf.
Equity states that while 'the production explores the character's deaf identity', it claims that the character's hunchback is 'intrinsic to the story'.
Natalie Amber, Chair of Equity's Deaf and Disabled Members Committee, said in a statement online: 'To highlight one facet while overlooking another erases the lived experience of people with physical impairments and is an example of ableism.
'While we welcome the inclusion of BSL interpreters, neurodivergent, and Romani performers, it is important to recognise that diversity is not a trade-off. Representation of one marginalised group does not excuse the erasure of another.'
The union said that the casting of the role 'caused concern' and raised 'many questions' from some of its 50,000 performers and creative practitioners.
Equity said that there must be a 'fair and accessible' audition process which is paired with 'targeted outreach to those artists who have lived experience of the specific disability, impairment, health condition or similar, being portrayed.'
The union stated that 'it is aware that individuals with disabilities are involved in the production, and that BSL will be incorporated into one performance'.
However, it said these facts 'side-step the real and significant issue of casting a non-physically disabled performer in the role of a physically disabled character'.
When posting the statement on X, the Equity received a mixed reaction, with one person writing: 'Acting is just pretending to be someone you are not.'
Another penned: 'Didn't it used to be called acting?'
A third said: 'I am disabled - if you likened me to Quasimodo because of it, I would be furious.'
A fourth commented: 'So disabled people can only play hunchbacks? This is the line you're going with?'
Standard tickets for The Hunchback of Notre Dame are selling upwards of £30 and performances are set to take place on 17 August at 3pm and 7.30pm, with a BSL interpreted show set to be held on 24 August at 6pm.
Equity says it has been having 'positive engagement' with Jack Maple Productions ahead of the opening performance, in which they have highlighted the 'structural discrimination faced by disabled artists'.
Jack Maple Productions and the actors starring as Quasimodo were approached for comment by the Daily Mail.
This comes after Shakespeare's The Globe Theatre was embroiled in an ableism row after a non-disabled actor was cast as Richard III who is believed to have suffered from scoliosis in January 2024.
It was announced that the Olivier Award-winning actress and Artistic Director at The Globe, Michelle Terry, would play the titular role in the Globe's summer production.
Richard III, Shakespeare's 'bunch-backed' scheming King describes himself as 'deformed, unfinish'd' and the decision to cast an able-bodied actress has received a torrent of backlash.
Brittanie Pallet, a professionally trained disabled performer, wrote on X: 'Why is an artistic director of any theatre firing themselves to play the lead when it's not their casting or lived experience?
'The misrepresentation and misinformation causes actual daily harm to the lives of real disabled people.'
She continued: 'The work we make is, in varying degrees, a reflection of our society and our beliefs about the people we share the world with. Most people's only experience of disabled life is through the stories we tell so it's bloody dangerous when we get that wrong.'
The Globe issued a statement in response to the backlash and said: 'We recognise the barriers to access in our industry and to our organisation and we are working hard to address that.
'We believe the Shakespearean canon is based on a foundation of anti-literalism and therefore all artists should have the right to play all parts in, and the casting across all our work year-round is no different.'
