A Glasgow theatre production has become the subject of international social media debate after promotional images of a Black actress playing Joan of Arc circulated widely online, sparking a sharp contrast between overseas criticism and largely supportive Scottish press coverage.
The Citizens Theatre’s adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s Saint Joan stars Mandipa Kabana, a young actress from Bathgate, in the title role. The production, which opened on 14 February, has been co-produced with Raw Material, Perth Theatre and Aberdeen Performing Arts, and is directed by Tony Award winner Stewart Laing.
International accounts on platform X, including Visegrád 24, amplified images from the show alongside commentary describing the casting as historically inaccurate or “woke” revisionism. The debate extended to French, Hungarian and American online communities, feeding into wider culture-war discussions about theatrical casting and historical representation.
Scottish media, by contrast, covered the show favourably, with outlets including The Herald, The National and The Sunday Post focusing on its contemporary themes and stripped-back staging rather than the casting controversy.
Laing, who condensed Shaw’s original text and incorporated elements from an unproduced screenplay, has said he deliberately sought an actress closer to Joan’s actual historical age — estimated at between 17 and 19 during her military campaigns — rather than following traditional theatrical convention. He drew comparisons between the medieval figure and present-day youth activists such as Greta Thunberg, with the production centring themes of gender, power and young people’s role in political change.
Kabana, who previously appeared in the BBC children’s series Gifted, is supported on stage by five male actors — Lewis MacDougall, Manasa Tagica, Martin O’Connor, Ross Mann and Thierry Mabonga — each taking on multiple roles across the 90-minute show.
The production is running in the Citizens Theatre’s Studio space before continuing a tour of Scottish venues including Perth Theatre, the Lemon Tree in Aberdeen, and the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh through late March. Tickets are priced between £16.50 and £23.50 plus booking fees.
Citizens Theatre has made no public statement indicating any changes to the casting or production in response to the social media criticism. The tour is proceeding as scheduled.
