U.K. Actor Resigns Role in Musical in Protest Over Casting of Trans Role

It was reported today that Transgender actor and campaigner Kate O’Donnell has withdrawn from a show in London over the casting of a cisgender male in a trans role.

O’Donnell was set to appear in the show, Breakfast on Pluto, but had to decline the role based on the fact that the trans role of Patrick/Pussy was given to cisgender actor Fra Fee.

O’Donnell told BBC: “I was offered the part and realised with the heaviest of hearts – because West End theatre production roles do not come along every day especially when you’re a trans performer – that I was going to have to decline the role.”

O’Donnell added: “I could not be in a show where a trans woman is once again seen as a man in a dress, as this perpetuates the idea that this is what a trans woman is and leads to violence, even death.”

The casting of trans performers in trans roles has been an ongoing topic of debate both in the U.K and the United States. Last year actress Scarlett Johannson faced scrutiny after initially signing on to play a trans role only to withdraw after backlash erupted.

What is surprising about the casting of Mr. Fee, is that producers of the show disclosed that they had consulted with trans consultants to aid in the casting of the role. There is doubt about the validity of that due to the fact that a trans consultant would likely never suggest casting a cisgender performer in a trans role.

Producers stated,

“In addition to holding auditions in London, we reached out to the Irish transgender community through multiple channels and auditioned a number of performers who identified as transgender for the role of Patrick/Pussy Braden.

“We acknowledge that we all need to do more to support the trans community and the development of trans artists and we are looking to amplify and celebrate trans voices in other ways as part of the production.”

The producers added: “We have been keen to ensure that trans voices have been central to the development of this new musical.

“A key member of the core creative team is trans, and a leading trans actor, Rebecca Root, has been production consultant since last year; her brief includes advising on the script as well as the casting process.”

Root has not commented on the story as of yet. Nor has Mr. Fee resigned from the production. As of right now, the musical opens at Galway International Arts Festival in July, and will then run in Dublin, Birmingham, and London, where it will play at the Donmar in October.