Interview with Natalie Campbell at the Green Banana

GB: Do you feel that there are enough or sufficient job opportunities in theatre for minorities here in Toronto? Why?

YJ: The stage, entertainment, and the arts have always been a reflection of human culture, while at the same time being powerful cultural influences. Not only do we tell stories based on the realities of our existence, but our lives and our realities are in turn shaped by those stories. Life imitates art. This is a well-known and accepted cultural phenomenon.

In countries with deeply rooted cultural identities, it is understandable - even expected - that their art (by "art" I'm referring to all forms of creative/entertainment media) will strongly represent their culture, as homogeneous as it may be. For example, Italy has a very strong cultural identity, and a history that stretches back to one of the most affluent empires in human civilization. The immigrant population in Italy is under 5%. Although I've never been there, I would expect their art to reflect this. And if I were an actor living in Rome, I would be hard pressed to justify any complaints about it.

However, we don't live in Italy. We live in Canada. North America, to be precise, because our arts and entertainment are so entangled. Here in Toronto, the percentage of the population that makes up ethnic "minorities" is almost half. These ethnic cultures are COMPLETELY entrenched in the cultural identity of our country. For as long as Canada as been Canada, ethnic minorities have been here; building railroads, providing cheap labour. Similarly in the United States, ethnic minorities have been there from the start. In fact, they were there (and here) BEFORE the start. Let's not forget, the FIRST PEOPLE OF AMERICA were "ETHNIC MINORITIES".

In this case, people of colour have an inherent RIGHT to equal representation in the arts and media. This is absolutely crucial to creating a strong, unified cultural identity for Canada as a whole. How can we, as a nation, describe ourselves to any other, when half of "who we are" is never seen or heard of? The prevailing representation of this country nowadays is undoubtedly the music industry, but even there, we are unsuccessful in showing our true colours. Of all the huge Canadian pop stars, are there ANY that are visible minorities? And if so, what percentage?

Our theatres and screens are no different. Nowhere else is it more evident, the vast rifts we have between our diverse cultures. Even though we may have overcome many obstacles in the form of outright racism in the streets, we have a subtler, and more insidious problem on our hands. It's not only a question of whether or not there is enough work for artists of colour. For the longest time, Canada was known as "The Unfinished Nation". What I'm saying is, we are still, far from being finished.

So, to answer your question: No. Because by looking at Toronto's stages, you would have no idea who populates its neighbourhoods.

GB: What do you think would help create more jobs for minorities?

YJ: It's a catch 22. More jobs for minorities will be created when the theatre community is confident that they can profit from, or at the very least, not lose anything by, hiring artists of colour. The problem is, there is no clear-cut way to determine the effect of having a visible minority in the cast of a play, as an example. Also, there is no clear-cut incentive for the average theatre company to try. There are not hordes of ethnic audiences, breaking down the doors every time they see an ethnic artist on stage. Reason being, is that these potential audiences do not feel a connection to the material, and do not feel involved in the culture that is demonstrated on our stages. And it takes more than just hiring an ethnic actor here and there (which is the extent to which most companies are willing to go) in order to lure these potential ethnic audiences into the theatre. So a lack of diversity in our audiences leads to a lack of diversity on the stage, which leads to...

You get the picture.

Now, assuming this model is basically sound, despite being a bit oversimplified, there are two ways to create more jobs for minorities:

1. Force the theatre companies to hire more ethnic artists (as in through some sort of legislation or governing body) and hope the audiences come out to see them.

2. Target ethnic audiences by creating material that is relevant to them. Telling the stories of ethnically diverse Canadians in hopes that when the audiences have been successfully engaged, the theatres will want their business, and diverse casting and storytelling will be an asset by default.

This second method seems to be working, slowly. Fu-GEN Asian-Canadian Theatre Company, for example, has held some staged readings of new works by ethnic Canadian artists for ethnic Canadian audiences. THEY HAVE ALL SOLD OUT.

GB: Have you ever been turned down for a role because of your ethnicity and not because you were not talented? Please tell me about it if you have.

YJ: If that were the reason for turning me down, they would never, in a million years, tell me.

GB: What do you think that minorities can do and where should they go to get the experience they need if they are finding a hard time getting it in Toronto?

YJ: Where to go? They are Canadians and Torontonians, just like everyone else here. They should not have to go anywhere. Besides, there is nowhere to go.

As far as what they can do - make their own work. Write their own plays/screenplays. Produce their own theatre/film. Cast themselves, their friends, and bring all their extended families out to see the finished works. Until minorities get INVOLVED in arts and entertainment, and MAKE Canadian culture THEIR culture as well, they will not see the equalities they so desire.

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