This weekend I shaved my wife’s head (she’s re-working her quiff) and talked to our son about how they met this time 25 years ago, and met his sister. Spent time talking with the big queer family about our children, adopted and birthed. Wished my first girlfriend a happy 55th birthday, both 16, me embracing the love but fearful of homophobia. Now, I’m on an early train to Nottingham for the Arts Council’s Creative Case for Diversity event… ‘it will help you embrace diversity to make your organisation be a better business that will thrive in a changing world’.
Open Clasp’s rating with The Creative Case is ‘good’, recognition of work that is inclusive of socio-economics, race, gender, disability and sexuality, but two of our most current shows have white casts, and this doesn’t necessarily reflect the women we collaborate with and I have worried about black women asking ‘where are our voices?’. Our Autumn tour of Don’t Forget The Birds tells the story of a real-life mother and daughter, two first-time actors from the region, two black women. As a lesbian, I’d always championed that voice in Open Clasp; then a couple of years ago I caught myself, as that voice was disappearing. Again, I put myself in the shoes of lesbians watching our shows asking ‘where is my voice?’. Our programme of work now includes a play about lesbians in prison.
So where am I going with this post? Open Clasp’s work is diverse and inclusive, I have experienced discrimination, oppression and gender violence, and I’m conscious that my lens is white and non-disabled. So, today I’m embracing this long journey to the event and looking forward to being challenged; I will strive to make sure Open Clasp reflects all voices and is inclusive in our staff and creative teams and with our board of trustees.
Catrina McHugh MBE
