A UK production of Dreamgirls was cancelled over a white cast. Here's what happened
"Imagine if the upcoming Beatles film had cast Black actors...there'd have been uproar," one Black Current News reader commented
A planned UK production of Dreamgirls has been cancelled after the show’s rights holder revoked its licence over concerns about a cast made up predominantly of white performers.
The production, organised by South Yorkshire-based Gillian Banks Creative Productions, had cast white actors in nearly all of the musical’s leading roles.
Following complaints about the casting, Concord Theatricals, the company that manages the rights to Dreamgirls, withdrew permission for the show to go ahead.
The company behind the production said it was “incredibly saddened” by the decision and insisted it had never intended to “whitewash” the musical.
It said organisers had sought a diverse cast but struggled to attract enough Black performers, arguing that all casting decisions had been made in good faith.
Explaining its position in correspondence sent to Gillian Banks Theatre School, Concord said: “Dreamgirls is a show about a time in black American music history when rhythm and blues blended with other styles of popular music, creating a new American sound.
“It tells the story of the Dreamettes and celebrates their rise to fame, echoing similar trajectories of iconic black girl and boy groups of the time like the Supremes, the Marvelettes, the Temptations and the Shirelles.
“Your production should be appropriately cast to represent and reflect these artists and their history.”
The decision is thought to be the first time Concord has revoked a Dreamgirls licence since taking over management of the musical in the 1980s.
Written by Tom Eyen and Henry Krieger, the show tells the story of the Dreamettes, a Black female singing group whose rise to fame mirrors that of several iconic acts from the golden age of American soul and R&B.
The musical was later adapted into the Oscar-winning 2006 film starring Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy.
Concord said it had attempted to resolve the issue before revoking the licence, including asking organisers to recast the production and offering alternative titles from its catalogue. When that did not happen, the licence was withdrawn.
The controversy gained wider attention after an American-based theatre blogger, who frequently covers Dreamgirls productions, reportedly flagged the casting to Concord.
The cancellation has sparked debate online about race, representation and authenticity.
Supporters of the decision argue that stories centred on Black history and culture should be performed by actors who reflect that heritage, while critics say local theatre groups with “limited” pools of performers can face practical challenges meeting such requirements.
The story sparked strong reactions among Black Current News readers, with some questioning the theatre group's claim that it struggled to find Black performers and arguing that a wider regional search - Yorkshire is the biggest county in England - may have produced a more representative cast.
The theatre group says it will now replace Dreamgirls with a new variety show featuring Motown and musical theatre classics, allowing the cast’s months of rehearsal and preparation to be showcased despite the cancellation.
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