Reinventing the (colour) wheel

Addressing a lack of diversity in the Australian theatre world, The Colour Blind Project is campaigning to reflect multicultural Australia in the performance world, and, like the US and UK make colour-blind integrated casting a common industry practice.

“Why have we have not seen an Asian lead character in a sitcom or romantic comedy? Why do we never see a male character, of middle eastern background for example, play the hero?” Are all questions asked by The Colour Blind Project co-Artistic Directors Josipa Draisma and Stephanie Son.

“Josipa and I, both performers and feeling frustrated with the lack of diversity that we would see when we went to the theatre or turned on the TV, decided to be proactive about encouraging a change in the Industry. We wanted to see the reality of multicultural Australia reflected on our stages and on our screens,” says Stephanie.

The pair created The Colour Blind Project in 2009, an arts initiative that truly showcases multicultural and Indigenous performers and challenges the stereotypes that exist in the Australian Arts and Entertainment Industry. It’s supported by organisations including Urban Theatre Projects and Playwriting Australia, as well as other artists including Candy Bowers, Robyn Loau and Paul Capsis.

“Unfortunately there is still a practice in the Industry that reaffirms the anglo-centric idea of what it means to be Australian; to push the agenda of the Australian stereotype of the blonde haired, blue eyed beach guy or girl. The reality is that Australia is much more than that,” they say.

“Occasionally there is a character on TV or on stage that is multicultural or Indigenous, but often it’s a stereotype or at best, tokenistic.”

“What we wanted to do was find talented actors from all different backgrounds who often get sent to the castings for ‘Thai prostitute’ or ‘taxi-driver’ or ‘wog girlfriend’ and give them roles that showcases their talent, rather than just the colour of their skin.”

Both Stephanie and Josipa cite the project as being extremely well received within the industry and by audiences, and they say the support is incredible inspiring.

The next production for The Colour Blind Project will be ‘Shakespeare In Full Colour’, with an integrated cast of all cultural backgrounds as part of the Sydney Fringe Festival at the New Theatre in Newtown between September 10 and 26. More: thecolourblindproject.org

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