The Australian production company behind commercial theatre shows such as Kinky Boots and Les Misérables has signed an agreement to prioritise hiring local actors over international talent.
The industry union has hailed the deal between Michael Cassel Group and the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance “a groundbreaking first for Australian theatre”.
The three-year agreement comes into force this week and lays out transparent guidelines around the hiring of international actors with the aim of maximising employment of Australians.
The agreement was reached after Australian performers aired their frustrations about the casting of international performers over Australians in both lead and supporting roles in major local productions of Aladdin, Kinky Boots and the Book of Mormon.
The MEAA said they hoped the outcome would usher in the revival of “a rigorous consultation process” for the use of international talent across the entire Australian performing arts industry.
The agreement comes four years after Live Performance Australia terminated the foreign artists agreement, which placed restrictions on the use of international talent in live theatre, dance, drama, ballet, opera and musicals. The LPA said at the time that consultation with its member companies had yielded “a unanimous view that the agreement had outlived its usefulness”.
Actors, directors and playwrights, including Geoffrey Rush, Neil Armfield, Rachel Griffiths and David Williamson, opposed the termination of the foreign artists agreement in 2012, publishing an open letter calling for LPA to reinstate the agreement.
Frustrations peaked again earlier this year when the highly sought-after role of Jasmine in the big-budget musical Aladdin was offered to American actor Arielle Jacob for its Australian season.
Erin James, an actor and editor of AussieTheatre.com, wrote at the time the issue of local actors missing out on big roles was “an issue which really isn’t a new one in our industry. It’s just becoming more relevant to artists right now because, well, what we feared would happen is actually happening.”
Live Performance Australia have been contacted for comment.
