Trans Casting Statement Report

The Trans Casting Statement is a collaboration between performers and theatre-makers from the trans community, Outbox Theatre, Milk Presents, and The Queer House. The statement was developed in response to a prominent casting decision made in 2020, by which a cis male actor was due to play the role of a trans woman.

Research @ Central commissioned academic Robin Craig to write a report on this piece of work, charting the development of the statement and providing a contextual overview of trans casting in the UK. The key findings of the report are that commercial or mainstream theatres very rarely commission trans-led work and that trans roles are limited. When these roles are present, cisgender actors are regularly hired to play them.

The Trans Casting Statement is an initiative to address the lack of trans performers on stage, especially in mainstream theatre spaces. The statement proposes that trans roles should only be cast with trans actors, which would limit the amount of cisgender actors being cast in trans roles and provide more opportunities for underrepresented trans talent.