Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes defends his new musical as 'historically accurate' after being drawn into a race row because it features an all-white cast 

  • Fellowes said there is a white cast in Half A Sixpence because it is set in 1900
  • Lack of ethnic minority actors was slammed as 'unforgiveable' by The Stage
  • Defending the decision Fellowes, 67, said 'You can't make something untruthful'
  • Half A Sixpence, set in Folkestone, is based on the 1905 novel Kipps by HG Wells

By Alex Matthews For Mailonline

Published: 02:09 EST, 1 February 2017 | Updated: 13:33 EST, 1 February 2017

Julian Fellowes has defended his new musical after critics slammed it as 'unforgiveable' that it had an all-white cast

Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes has defended his new musical after critics slammed it as 'unforgiveable' for having an all-white cast.

Fellowes has found himself at the centre of a race row after his West End play Half A Sixpence, based on the 1905 novel Kipps by HG Wells and playing at the Noel Coward Theatre, was targeted for its lack of diversity.

In The Stage, a performing arts publication, a critic wrote: 'In a cast of 26, there is not one non-white face. That for a new production, is unforgiveable.' 

However, the screenwriter, 67, has claimed he was simply making sure the casting was historically accurate.

He said: 'We are trying to reproduce Folkestone in 1900, and I think you must produce something that is believable.'

The Academy Award winning writer added that he supported more 'adventurous casting' in theatre.

He told The Stage: 'I feel quite strongly that ethnic minorities don't get a sufficient look-in.

'The way to get a better balance in our artistic community is in casting. We need much more adventurous casting.

'When you are doing a modern drama there is absolutely no reason why anyone can't play most of the parts.

Fellowes has found himself at the centre of a race row after his West End musical Half A Sixpence, based on the 1905 novel Kipps by HG Wells , was targeted for its lack of diversity

'In every contemporary drama, there is a completely realistic option of a much more variegated cast than we are usually being given.'

'You can't make something untruthful. My feeling is about contemporary drama and there is absolutely no reason (why there shouldn't be diverse casting).

'But Sixpence is set in 1900 in a seaside town. You're in a different territory.'

Fellowes, who included a story-line featuring a black character, jazz singer Jack Ross, in Downton, also commented that while Shakespearean character Othello had previously been played by white actors 'it isn't right any more' for that to happen.

Fellowes was acclaimed for his period drama Downton Abbey (pictured), in which he created a story-line featuring a black character, jazz singer Jack Ross

He added that the overall consensus would be to welcome a black actor portraying Henry V, particularly on camera.

Fellowes said: 'I think at times you have more latitude on the stage than you do on camera - particularly in the great classical roles.'

His comments follow a report commissioned by Andrew Lloyd Webber last year into the 'hideously white' British theatre industry.

Webber, the star composer, who created Cats and Evita, said there was a 'real danger' that ethnic minorities could stay away from theatre as a 'profession' and as 'punters'.


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