Hugh Sheridan transgender casting in Hedwig and the Angry Inch slammed

Producers of a play which stars Hugh Sheridan in a transgender role have responded to backlash over his casting.

The January season of an LGBT-themed play has been postponed following a politically correct backlash over the fact its starring actor Hugh Sheridan isn’t transgender.

Producers of dramedy Hedwig and the Angry Inch have put the play’s 2021 Sydney Festival season on hold after members of the LGBTQIA+ community complained Sheridan wasn’t transgender like his character, Hedwig Robinson.

In the play’s plot, which has a heavy focus on gender identity, Hedwig reveals she underwent a botched male to female surgery to flee socialist Germany in the 1990s.

Hugh Sheridan as Hedwig.

An open letter has been published slamming Sheridan’s casting. Picture Rohan Kelly.

It was to be a two-header production with Casey Donovan playing Ytzhak, a drag king performer who is married to Hedwig.

The Queer Artist Alliance Australia published an open letter to producers on Monday blasting Sheridan’s casting.

“The choice to cast a cis-gender male as a transgender character is offensive and damaging to the trans-community, and continues to cause genuine stress and frustration among trans- and gender- nonconforming performers all across Australia,” the open letter read. “It is unquestionable Hugh is a talented and deserving actor … it is not appropriate for a cis actor to be the gatekeeper of a trans story.”

Hedwig’s production staff released a statement in response saying the team was taking the casting issue “very seriously” after making the “difficult” decision to suspend the season.

“In casting HEDWIG we auditioned a wide, diverse range of performers and no one from any background was excluded from this process, and were encouraged,” a statement from production, led by David M Hawkins, read. “We wish to assure the Trans and LGBTQIA+ community that the issues raised are respected and taken very seriously. We appreciate your patience in giving us time to properly consider these concerns and respond accordingly. Please note that comments or actions of any individual, including by way of any personal social media account, should not be taken as the views of the producer, or as endorsed by the producer. We do not believe in censoring legitimate conversation and will not condone silencing.”