Kristin Scott Thomas Denounces Male Theatre Critics for Misinterpreting Women's Plays
Kristin Scott Thomas has launched a sharp critique against male theatre critics, accusing them of failing to comprehend plays written by women and centered on female experiences. Her remarks were delivered as she accepted the inaugural leading light award at the Women's Prize for Playwriting ceremony in London, a new honor that celebrates lifetime achievement by women in the arts.
Championing Female Playwrights and Their Stories
During her acceptance speech, Scott Thomas emphasized the vital role of women playwrights in her career, stating, "Where would I be without women playwrights? To be honest, absolutely nowhere." She highlighted the impact of female-driven narratives, citing her monologue on menstruation in Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Fleabag as a powerful example. Scott Thomas noted that this scene "ripped through the internet" and helped bring so-called female issues into mainstream discourse, even influencing legal changes.
Case Study: The Controversial Reception of Lyonesse
Scott Thomas referenced her recent stage role in Penelope Skinner's play Lyonesse, which ran at the Harold Pinter theatre in 2023. The production explored themes such as ambition, motherhood, and sexual violence, attracting strong audiences but receiving mixed reviews from critics. She pointed out that many negative reviews were penned by men who, in her view, lacked understanding of the experiences depicted.
"The play was mostly hated by the critics," Scott Thomas said. "So why did people flock to the Pinter to catch it before we all vanished? A clue might be that many of the reviews were written by men who really didn't understand what it is to be a working mother or a child-free actress." She added that one male critic dismissed a female character's lament about her vagina as unrealistic, underscoring the need for women to voice their own experiences.
Gender Inequality in Theatre: A Persistent Issue
The Women's Prize for Playwriting was established in 2019 to address ongoing gender disparities in the theatre industry. Organizers highlight that women remain underrepresented as playwrights and in senior creative roles. Research from The Stage in 2022 revealed that approximately three-quarters of writers in UK theatre were men, while a 2023 update from Sphinx Theatre's survey reported structural barriers, including caring responsibilities and uneven commissioning opportunities, continue to hinder women's progress.
Industry Voices Echo Concerns
After the ceremony, Ellie Keel, co-founder of the prize and a producer, echoed Scott Thomas's sentiments. She told The Stage that plays by women often face a different critical reception, stating, "Lyonesse was received as a very mediocre play, when actually it wasn't. It feels like women writers are held to different standards, and written about in different ways." Keel argued that improvement is needed from male critics rather than simply increasing the number of female critics.
Reviews of Lyonesse were indeed mixed: The Stage's male critic, Dave Fargnoli, awarded it four stars, while female critics Arifa Akbar and Fiona Mountford each gave it two stars, illustrating the subjective nature of critique.
Commitment to Advocacy and Change
Scott Thomas reaffirmed her dedication to supporting female writers, acknowledging the challenges of being a woman in the spotlight. "It isn't always easy to be a woman in the spotlight," she said. "But keeping the fires burning and the arguments flaring is something I relish and would not be able to do without writers." Her comments underscore a broader call for greater inclusivity and understanding in theatre criticism and production.
