Can an actress utter the line ‘Fraility, thy name is woman’?
Theatre has come a long way since those words were first uttered on stage more than 400 years ago. Shakespeare’s plays were originally performed by an all-male cast.
This Wednesday it was announced that Maxine Peake is to take on the iconic role of Hamlet in a gender-swapping production at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre next year.
Star of TV dramas including Shameless and Silk, Peake said in a statement: “I am so excited how gender swapping can affect and throw up new ways of looking at this theatrical masterpiece.”
Peake is not the first woman to play the Prince of Denmark, with actresses ranging from Sarah Bernhardt to Frances de la Tour having previously starred as female Hamlets.
However it is a first for the Royal Exchange and this latest casting choice reaffirms the theatre’s reputation for providing female roles.
Last year performers’ union Equity revealed a disproportion between the casting of men and women in subsidised theatres.
Manchester’s Royal Exchange was the only theatre out of 36 investigated that had employed more actresses than actors with 46 women compared to 43 men.
The research which was carried out by Equity’s Women’s Committee found that on average male roles outnumbered female roles two to one, such as at the National Theatre where 152 actors were hired compared to 76 actresses.
In some cases the difference was even higher, notably at Shakespeare’s Globe where 57 roles were available for men but only 14 for women.
As well as investigating the disparity between opportunities for men and women in theatre , Equity has campaigned for equal representation of women in TV and film, with an online petition signed by performers including Julie Walters, Imelda Staunton and Charles Dance.
Peake was also among the signatories of the petition, and commented: “I want to see more female-driven dramas and about people who have lived.”
It has also been announced that Peake will become an Associate Artist of the Royal Exchange and will be involved with the theatre’s community projects working with young actors from across the city.
Salford-based Peake, who was formerly part of the Exchange’s youth theatre, said: “I am so honoured to be part of this building’s future for a little while, especially in this climate of savage cuts when more than ever we need to support our wonderful regional theatres.
“I feel no need to compete with London – more than ever local people need a voice and a creative outlet in these extreme times and I feel the Exchange has a huge role to play in that.”
The production of Hamlet will be part of the Exchange’s Autumn 2014 season, and will reunite Peake with artistic director Sarah Frankcom.
In a statement Frankcom said: “Hamlet is a massively exciting challenge for any actor and director. I am certain Maxine will be a compelling and extraordinary Hamlet for our time.”
It follows their collaboration in July on The Masque of Anarchy, in which Peake recited Shelley’s epic poem against the Peterloo Massacre in front of more than 6,000 people as part of the world-renowned Manchester International Festival.
Image courtesy of Manchester International Festival via YouTube, with thanks
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