Shane Crawford wants to prove himself on stage after arts industry criticism

He copped a spray from the theatre industry after scoring his stage debut but Shane Crawford is ready to take on his critics.

Shane Crawford at the Regent Theatre where he’s ready to begin rehearsals.

AFL legend Shane Crawford says he’s not afraid to enter the musical theatre world as rehearsals soon begin for his stage debut in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

Crawford, a Hawthorn premiership player, will play a main character, Pharaoh, in the Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Tim Rice musical, alongside leads Euan Fistrovic-Doidge (Joseph) and Paulini (The Narrator), at the Regent Theatre in November.

The role, Crawford’s first foray into theatre, was criticised by some in the arts sector.

Melbourne-based composer Samantha Andrew, told The Age last month: “It just sends such a disheartening message to performers who have dedicated their lives to this industry, battled through all the heartbreaking steps to even get into an audition room, and then you see these roles going to someone who played AFL once.

“Hawthorn isn’t signing Lucy Durack, it’s offensive to the industry in that it’s essentially saying, ‘Oh no, you don’t need the training to do this; anyone can do it.’”

Comedian Tanya Hennessy said on Instagram: “Let’s cast performers in these roles who work, train, sacrifice and give their lives to the arts. Can I join a professional AFL team with no training or experience?”

Crawford will star opposite Paulini as The Narrator and Euan Fistrovic-Doidge in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Picture: Chris Pavlich Photography

But Crawford said he’s ready to do the work and prove himself.

“I don’t know anyone in musical theatre,” Crawford said. “I know no-one, and it doesn’t scare me because I know the environment of everyone working together towards one goal. It will be great to achieve something, and do it together.

“I’m throwing myself into the deep end because I’m working alongside people who, you know, that’s their life, and they’ve been training since they were very young, and wanted to be on the stage,” Crawford said.

“I won’t be trying to compete with Paulini. I’ll be trying to do my bit and make it work. I will learn and watch and work hard. I’ll be training like I’ve never trained before.”

Music theatre favourite Durack, who was on the red carpet for Come From Away on Thursday, said she was surprised about being dragged into the controversy surrounding Crawford’s casting.

Crawford has received some backing from industry stalwart Lucy Durack.

“When I read that, and thought, ‘Did I not get a job I didn’t even know I was up for?” Durack said, laughing. “I was flattered that somebody would think of me as a representative for musical theatre … and Hawthorn, but yellow and brown aren’t really my colours.”

She said Crawford being cast in Joseph was a producer’s decision.

“I understand there are a lot of mechanics in the theatre, that, we as actors, aren’t really privy to,” Durack said. “Everyone is doing the best they can.”

Crawford was asked to audition for Joseph by the show’s producers Tim Lawson, Michael Harrison Entertainment and The Really Useful Company.

Pharaoh performs three songs in the show.

He successfully auditioned for, and committed to the Pharaoh role, a few weeks before his younger brother Justin died suddenly.

A former Sydney and Hawthorn AFL footballer, Justin was 45.

Crawford said the role would help him step back into life again. He said: “I’ve got to live life, and get on with it, even though we’re hurting every day.”

Crawford played 305 games for Hawthorn, and played in the premiership of 2008. He is a TV presenter, author, and has raised $2m for breast cancer causes.