I’m an avid Shakespeare fan. I attend as many live productions as I (and my bank account) can permit, and I have noticed a recent increase in performances which alter the genders of various characters. Some media outlets have weighed in on this, branding it as “woke”. But does it make a real difference to the plays?
The altering of genders can sometimes have very little relevance. The RSC’s Much Ado About Nothing (2022) made Don Pedro a woman, and in another production from a few years ago, Don John was female. These are minor roles, and I cannot see why anyone would be particularly perturbed by the change. It is the significant changes, like a female Hamlet, that draw the most attention.
Imagine an all-female cast of Romeo and Juliet. The deviation from a heterosexual romance would be unmissable, and personally, the idea excites me. The tragedy has been done countless times, and to find a production that offers something new is a rarity. An LGBT adaptation would be refreshing, and I would find a female Romeo less insufferable. When we experiment with gender and the assumptions that accompany it, infinite possibilities emerge. Last summer, a production was staged with Lord and Lady Capulet merged into one female role. This added an entirely new dynamic to Juliet’s relationship with her parent; hearing Lord Capulet’s perspective through a female voice made it more emotive and moving.
The fair counterargument is that gender plays a key role in Shakespeare’s characterisation. I struggle to see how the genders of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth could be reversed, given that the play actively addresses masculine and feminine themes. Additionally, the female identities of many Shakespearean characters, like Beatrice and Cleopatra, are integral. Ironically, I would be disappointed by a production where my favourite heroine was played by a man.
In short, I don’t think there is any fundamental issue with altering the genders of Shakespeare’s characters, whether to create a production with LGBT representation or to offer a new, unique spin on a traditional narrative. But we should be clear about our intentions. When the play already contains a powerful social commentary, we shouldn’t undermine this. However, in most cases, I would argue for the benefits of offering new perspectives on the Bard, and if changing the gender of certain characters is how to do it, I will applaud that intention.
Image: “Romeo and Juliet” by Ben just Ben is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.