Debate over non-binary Joan of Arc in UK production

by Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre is accused of 'violating history' by portraying Joan of Arc as non-binary in a new play using the pronouns 'they' and 'them'. The theatre defended the production and suggested, “Shakespeare would have agreed”.

The debate surrounds the production of a play titled ‘I, Joan’ by Charlie Josephine who is non-binary and whose website says uses the pronouns they/he. In an interview, Josephine said of the production: 'It's going to be this big sweaty, queer, revolution, rebellion, festival of like joy.”

While many are praising the artistic choice, others are saying it’s “plundering history” and an example of the erasure of a historic feminist icon.

A description of the play on the Globe’s website reads,

“Acry for courage erupts in the Globe Theatre this summer with the premiere of I, Joan, a powerful and joyous new play which tells Joan of Arc’s story anew.

The men are all fighting, again. An endless war. From nowhere, an unexpected leader emerges. Young, poor and about to spark a revolution. This is Joan.

Rebelling against the world’s expectations, questioning the gender binary, Joan finds their power and their belief spreads like fire.

Join us in the wooden ‘O’ and feel the heat of the sun and the pulse of Joan’s passion. With open hearts and raised voices, dance and cheer with us as we rediscover Joan’s story. It’s alive, queer and full of hope."

Joan will be portrayed by actor, Isobel Thom, who also identifies as non-binary and uses the pronouns they/them.

Director Ilinca Radulian added: “We're just trying to do something that puts people in Joan's shoes, in Joan's body, like, with that mission, with those questions and with that sense of possibility. We want to take the audience on a journey of discovery with Joan.”

But not everyone is on board with the retelling of Joan of Arc’s story. Frank Furedi, emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Kent, told MailOnline: “Playwrights are allowed to have a bit of poetic license but I think what is interesting about the play is that it very much falls in with the idea of rewriting history.”

Furedi continued,

“The reinterpretation violates the historical reality. It’s plundering history to legitimise views in the here and now. Someone like Joan of Arc would not have any idea what non-binary was. It is a recharacterisation of something that did not even exist at the time. It completely violates the meaning of history – it’s the projecting of a fantasy backwards. I imagine in time someone will suggest Jane Austen was transgender or George Elliot was non-binary. For French patriots Joan of Arc is someone very special. Her role was all the more heroic because she was a woman.”

But Josephine defends their choice to portray Joan in the play.

'Joan was this working class, young person, who was transgressing gender at a time when it as really dangerous and that just felt instantly relatable to me I was assigned female at birth,” they said. “I'm non-binary, I'm from a working class background. I've often felt like I've had something to say and haven't been given permission to say it. So to get an opportunity to write a play about a character, that's also trying to do that, I was like, uh it's too good to be true really.”

The show is set to open on August 25.

I find this to be an interesting topic to take a deeper look at. I absolutely support more non-binary stories and representation on our stages. Having said that, is changing the gender of historical figures that are so iconic to a specific gender the right thing to do?

It’s a complicated answer and as a cisgender male, I’m not the right person to give one. But I will say that artistic freedom is important. It’s important to have these discussions. It’s important for productions like these to be read and seen.

I would also remind those who are outraged by this that this is only a dramatic play. No one is changing the official historical record.

For me, I look forward to reading this play when it becomes available. And I hope those who can see it, will.