Britain’s Princess Eugenie has been caught up in a racism row.
The 26-year-old royal was made a patron of the Print Room last month, but the theatre has since been slammed for the use of white actors to play Chinese characters.
Andrew Keates, who is leading the protest, has written an open letter to the Print Room, blasting the theatre for endorsing the "racist, outdated and unnecessary practice of ‘yellowface’ and instead find actors who are appropriate".
He told the Daily Mail newspaper: "As a representative of British East Asians in this country, I do not see how she could lend her name to a theatre that is not supporting racial equality, either actively or through ignorance."
The protest has been backed by Equity, the trade union that represents actors and performers.
Christine Payne, Equity’s general secretary, said: "This casting clearly shows that the Print Room is not engaging with the industry-wide discussion on diversity."
But the Print Room has defended itself in a statement, saying: "The production references a setting in Ancient China and the characters’ names are Chinese. These are literary allusions in Howard Barker’s fable and never intended to be taken literally.
"It is, in fact a very ‘English’ play and is derived from thoroughly English mores and simply references the mythic and the ancient. It has therefore been cast accordingly."
Meanwhile, defenders of Princess Eugenie have rubbished criticism of the royal, pointing out that she has nothing to do with the specific details of particular productions at the theatre.
Princess Eugenie caught up in racism row
