Would You Quit a Show Because of Your Co-Star’s Politics?

by Chris Peterson

Here’s a theatre question I’m genuinely curious about.

Would you ever quit a show because of your co-star’s politics?

Actor Gerard McCarthy recently withdrew from Right Before I Go at London’s Soho Theatre after learning that Dame Maureen Lipman had joined the company. McCarthy cited Lipman’s public views on Israel and Palestine as the reason he no longer felt comfortable participating.

Lipman did not take the decision well. She called it cowardly, accused him of virtue-signaling and told him to “grow up,” arguing that actors have always had to work alongside people whose political opinions they dislike.

And, to a point, I understand that argument.

I’ve worked with plenty of people in theatre whose politics were different from mine. I’m sure some of them thought my opinions were ridiculous too. You don’t have to agree politically with everyone in a rehearsal room. You don’t even have to like everyone in a rehearsal room.

But I also think saying “leave politics at the door” becomes a lot easier when the politics in question don’t affect you personally.

Because there’s disagreement, and then there’s something you believe could cause serious harm to you or your family.

I’m not interested in turning this column into another debate about Israel and Palestine. There are plenty of places having that argument right now, and plenty of people far more qualified to have it.

What interests me is what happens when that type of political divide walks into a rehearsal room.

If I learned that a co-star was publicly advocating for a policy or candidate that I believed could irreparably harm my family, I’d have a hard time pretending that was simply a difference of opinion.

Could I still work with that person?

Maybe.

But I’m not going to pretend it would automatically be easy.

Theatre also requires a weird amount of trust. You rehearse together for weeks. You depend on each other onstage. Depending on the show, you might be kissing this person, or putting your physical safety in their hands.

That’s a little different from disagreeing with a coworker.

And there’s another part of McCarthy’s decision that I think is worth mentioning: he didn’t demand Lipman be removed. He removed himself.

I would feel very differently about someone campaigning to have another actor fired solely because of their political beliefs. But deciding, “I personally cannot do this show anymore,” is ultimately a choice an actor is allowed to make.

Of course, that choice can have consequences. Theatre is a small business. If you refuse to work with everyone whose politics offend you, eventually you’re going to run out of people.

But there has to be a line somewhere. I just don’t know where everyone draws it.

So I’m curious.

If you discovered that one of your co-stars held political beliefs that you didn’t simply disagree with, but genuinely believed threatened you or people you love, would you finish the show?

Or would you walk?