‘Cast women in male roles’

Published on 07/12/2012 00:00

Award-winning film director Phyllida Lloyd has said the European Union could force theatres to cast women in roles traditionally played by men.

Lloyd, who directed the Margaret Thatcher biopic The Iron Lady, is currently running an all-female production of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.

She said “the time had come for some form of reparation” and the play offered “territory” female actors rarely got to 
explore.

“Actually, what they should be doing and probably the European Union will legislate soon… they should be just told they have to have a 50:50 employment spread,” she added.

“If that means some gender-blind casting… it’s not rocket science.”