Theater, poor relation of diversity?

By: Chantal Lorho Follow

Sylvie Chalaye is an anthropologist and historian of representations of Africa and the black world in the performing arts. She publishes Race and Theater, a political unthought with Actes Sud. A reflection on the lack of chromatic diversity of theatrical distributions in France and the place of actors perceived as non-white on contemporary stages.

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Why in France are actors from diverse backgrounds so little visible at the Theater? Why do stereotypes remain anchored in the minds of directors? Why so much reluctance to have black actors interpret the great traditionally white roles of the repertoire? Is it a legacy from the history of slavery, from France's colonial past? What does the controversy surrounding the blackface reveal, this practice which consists for white actors in painting their faces to interpret black characters?

We are discussing it with our two guests:

- Sylvie Chalaye , performing arts historian, specialist in African theaters and diasporas, anthropologist of colonial representations, professor at the Sorbonne Nouvelle / Paris 3.

- Rachel Khan , actress, writer and lawyer. She participated in 2018 in the collective work Noire n'est pas mon profession published in the Seuil editions which highlighted the racism and stereotypes of which black and mixed race actresses are victims.

Cover of "Race and Theater, a Political Thought" by Sylvie Chalaye. Editions Actes Sud. © ActesSud

He is known worldwide for being the painter of color. Leader of Fauvism and Expressionism, Henri Matisse influenced world painting. On the occasion of its 150th anniversary, the Matisse museum, at Cateau-Cambrésis in the North of France, retraces its journey and explores the influence of the great masters of painting on the work of the young artist, before he become master in turn. Report by Amélie Beaucour.

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