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| Theatre boss defends controversial appointment on BME directors' scheme | Theatre boss defends controversial appointment on BME directors' scheme |
| (2 months later) | |
| The theatre company which gave a job targeted at ethnic minorities to a man who identifies as black, but was apparently born to white parents, has defended its decision. | The theatre company which gave a job targeted at ethnic minorities to a man who identifies as black, but was apparently born to white parents, has defended its decision. |
| Michael Buffong, the artistic director of the east London-based Talawa Theatre Company, issued a statement on Thursday “to set the record straight” after a week of debate and, he said, “misleading information”. | Michael Buffong, the artistic director of the east London-based Talawa Theatre Company, issued a statement on Thursday “to set the record straight” after a week of debate and, he said, “misleading information”. |
| Buffong appointed Anthony Ekundayo Lennon as Talawa’s trainee associate director as part of a publicly funded programme to help theatre practitioners of colour. Lennon applied as a person of mixed heritage. It emerged at the weekend that Lennon had described his parents as white Irish. | Buffong appointed Anthony Ekundayo Lennon as Talawa’s trainee associate director as part of a publicly funded programme to help theatre practitioners of colour. Lennon applied as a person of mixed heritage. It emerged at the weekend that Lennon had described his parents as white Irish. |
| “I have always been aware of Anthony’s unique and complicated story,” said Buffong. “For my generation, and when Talawa started as a company in 1986, there was a spirit of inclusivity which meant that he was accepted by many, inside the organisation and externally, as a person of mixed heritage.” | “I have always been aware of Anthony’s unique and complicated story,” said Buffong. “For my generation, and when Talawa started as a company in 1986, there was a spirit of inclusivity which meant that he was accepted by many, inside the organisation and externally, as a person of mixed heritage.” |
| Buffong said he appointed Lennon on that basis. He also took legal advice about whether Lennon was eligible for the Artistic Director Leadership Programme. “From the advice I was given, because of the complex nature of his case, he was deemed to still be eligible.” | Buffong said he appointed Lennon on that basis. He also took legal advice about whether Lennon was eligible for the Artistic Director Leadership Programme. “From the advice I was given, because of the complex nature of his case, he was deemed to still be eligible.” |
| The story has triggered much debate about identity politics, something Buffong said he viewed as a positive. | The story has triggered much debate about identity politics, something Buffong said he viewed as a positive. |
| “I welcome the debate around identity and, while I am no arbiter of that debate, surely we must acknowledge that there are nuances and grey areas.” | “I welcome the debate around identity and, while I am no arbiter of that debate, surely we must acknowledge that there are nuances and grey areas.” |
| Buffong expressed concern that the story was being hijacked by people who attack the validity of funding for BME practitioners “at a time when power structures are lurching towards even more exclusion of marginalised communities”. | Buffong expressed concern that the story was being hijacked by people who attack the validity of funding for BME practitioners “at a time when power structures are lurching towards even more exclusion of marginalised communities”. |
| He says Lennon receives a fee that is standard across the industry for a trainee role, pro rata, for the three days a week he works at Talawa. Buffong stressed that in this “unique” case there had been no attempt to mislead any funders “or to deny anyone else considered more valid a place”. | He says Lennon receives a fee that is standard across the industry for a trainee role, pro rata, for the three days a week he works at Talawa. Buffong stressed that in this “unique” case there had been no attempt to mislead any funders “or to deny anyone else considered more valid a place”. |
| He added: “Equality and representation do not have fixed parameters, they change over time. Under my leadership, Talawa Theatre Company fights to ensure a diversity of art and artists across the creative industries. We will continue to strive to make a valuable contribution to the cultural life of the UK.” | He added: “Equality and representation do not have fixed parameters, they change over time. Under my leadership, Talawa Theatre Company fights to ensure a diversity of art and artists across the creative industries. We will continue to strive to make a valuable contribution to the cultural life of the UK.” |
| Lennon’s traineeship has also been supported by Arts Council England, which funds the scheme. In a statement it said: “Talawa raised their wish to support Anthony with us. In responding we took into account the law in relation to race and ethnicity. This is a very unusual case and we do not think it undermines the support we provide to black and minority ethnic people within the theatre sector.” | Lennon’s traineeship has also been supported by Arts Council England, which funds the scheme. In a statement it said: “Talawa raised their wish to support Anthony with us. In responding we took into account the law in relation to race and ethnicity. This is a very unusual case and we do not think it undermines the support we provide to black and minority ethnic people within the theatre sector.” |
| Lennon, an actor with more than 30 years’ experience, has not commented on the story. | Lennon, an actor with more than 30 years’ experience, has not commented on the story. |
| He discussed his identity in a scripted episode of the BBC series Everyman broadcast in the early 1990s titled Chilling Out. The synopsis for the show reads: “Anthony Lennon was born in Kilburn, west London. His parents both come from Ireland and are both indisputably white. | He discussed his identity in a scripted episode of the BBC series Everyman broadcast in the early 1990s titled Chilling Out. The synopsis for the show reads: “Anthony Lennon was born in Kilburn, west London. His parents both come from Ireland and are both indisputably white. |
| “Anthony now earns his living as a black actor, because ever since he was a child he has looked black. When his friends, who are mostly black, find out about his background, fierce debates invariably follow; about whether Anthony really can call himself black, and about what black skin means to those who are born black.” | “Anthony now earns his living as a black actor, because ever since he was a child he has looked black. When his friends, who are mostly black, find out about his background, fierce debates invariably follow; about whether Anthony really can call himself black, and about what black skin means to those who are born black.” |
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| Race | Race |
| Theatre | Theatre |
| Arts Council England | Arts Council England |
| Identity politics | Identity politics |
| Arts funding | Arts funding |
| news | news |
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