I’m tired.
I’m tired of being told that I don’t look ‘trans enough’ for the trans roles. I’m tired of being told that I’m ‘too trans’ for the cis roles. I’m tired of my transness taking precedence over my craft as an actor. I’m tired of my craft as an actor being overshadowed by my transness. I’m tired of my transness being the sole reason why I’m brought into certain rooms. I’m tired of my transness being the sole reason why I’m kept out of certain rooms. I’m tired of blaming my transness. I’m tired of reminding myself that my transness isn’t the issue; your perception of my transness is.
We’re tired.
I remember sitting outside of The Pig and Butcher Pub in Islington with
@mariahlouca a few years ago, where she told me about the idea for an article she had. It was to be in public conversation with the theatre industry, explaining how we as trans women are pigeonholed by our casting. I remember feeling exactly the same way that she did. Then we left, without paying for our drinks.
We continued to speak back and forth about the idea over the next few years, never fully getting around to it. But then at the start of this year, I decided to pitch it to
@guardian on a whim. I’m pleased to say we’re now featured both online and in print!
It was such a surreal experience, but one I’m very grateful to have had. We came together with the legendary
@mzzkimberley for the write-up. Thank you to
@katewyver for platforming all three of us.
If you consider yourself an ally, whatever that has come to mean at this point, then please share this post far and wide.
It is the responsibility of the cis artistic directors, cis directors, cis casting directors, and cis producers not only currently working within but disproportionately leading the theatre industry to ensure that their lists include us on them. Not because you want to tick a box, but because you want to help us break out of the box that we, as actors and as women, have been so rigidly placed in.
Journalist
@katewyver
Photography
@graemephoto1
Hair
@thelittlehairkitchen
Makeup
@jamescampbellmua 
