“Every audience deserves to sit in the theatre and see their community reflected back to them.” The SoSu trailer revealed some reasons why that isn’t the case today. Billie Krishawn starts her new interview project, The SoSu Series, with a look at the facts.
As a Black Woman, it is easy for me to recognize moments where representation is lacking. For many Women* and Non-Binary theatre artists the lack of representation is our reality. All too often we find ourselves auditioning for plays that only have room for one or two of us. We find ourselves on production teams where we are the only non-male designer. We find ourselves fighting for space in an industry that doesn’t always make space for us on its own. Now if you add being a person of color to the equation, those spaces get even smaller.
While this is my reality, I’m aware that, for those who fall on the other end of the spectrum, this may not seem as obvious. This first episode of The SoSu Series highlights the statistical information that backs our experience. This feeling of fighting for space isn’t just a perspective. It’s a fact. And quite frankly, the numbers don’t lie. My aim with this episode is to bring awareness to the lack of representation of BIPOC Women and Non-Binary artists in the theatre industry.
With these numbers, my hope is that those who are not BIPOC Women or Non-Binary, can join us in the fight for creating space. The episodes to follow will feature many BIPOC Theatre Artists who share this experience with me. May these numbers allow you to open your heart to them. May it allow you to listen to their words with a willingness to learn and an eagerness to take action.
Thanks for tuning in to The SoSu Series on our YouTube channel. The interviews begin next Wednesday, September 9 at 7pm. See you then!
*- cis and trans Women
If you have any questions or inquiries, reach us at [email protected]
If you’d like to donate to the series you can via cash app ($TheSoSuSeries) or venmo (@TheSoSuSeries)! All proceeds will go to further productions of the series.
Some cool resources from today’s episode:
DC Theater Demographic Analysis 2018/2019 Season
Asian American Performers Action Coalition Research
If you’d like to learn more, feel free to visit my resources and even take time to find some of your own! Learning from others is a beautiful privilege, but initiating your own learning is a beautiful power. May you hone in on that power and pass it forward.
