Diversity in the West End

Too much? Too little? Diversity of what?

There's too much Westism in the West End. It should be inclusive of the East End. And North End. And Southend.

Also Bell End.

That would cut down on my travel time!

The Northbank is a BID, or Business Improvement District, that also includes Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden, so it's as good a name as any. It certainly makes more sense than Midtown, which is the area to the north midway between two cities.

Just 'cos there's a website doesn't mean it's not a fairly recent development (2013, as far as I can tell), nor does it make my cringe-reflex any less pronounced. The Southbank has historically been a bit of a wasteground so benefitted from having a unifying name. Trafalgar Square + the Strand + surrounding areas are somewhat more historically well-known and oft-visited and more than capable of standing on their own two (or however many applicable in this instance) feet.

Where does the southbank and the northbank (new one on me) begin and end?

I think we’re just having a “kickabout” until the OP comes back and starts the match properly.

You be joking moi, no? The northbank stops when you get your feet wet coming from my house and the southbank starts when I have no idea where I am past the Globe. 

OP seems to have deactivated their account!

Sometimes what they actually mean is that there’s not enough American actors of colour getting film roles! British Asian and Black British actors in films are often ignored or actively dismissed (or viewed as competition).

It does annoy me, the way that the word gets misused.

They’re not talking about actual diversity, they’re talking about a very specific demographic not getting enough opportunities in certain high profile film projects.

As an ethnic minority I've become very cynical about this kind of "diversity" in theatre recently. To me they are paying lip service to what they clearly consider the "underdog" group. West End aside, almost every play in London with a mid to large cast is the same - about 60% white and 40% black. This is not representative, if anything black people are overrepresented - but they don't seem to care about other groups, the South East Asians, Chinese, Latin, North African, Indian or any other ethnic group despite making a large proportion of London and the UK. It's the same with TV adverts - it just seems like a very shallow and trite attempt to add some colour (pun intended) to proceedings without really truly being diverse or representative.

Not that I really care that much, I never even used to notice this kind of thing before being exposed to the very identity obsessed media you have here, but if theatres are going to be neurotic about this kind of thing they might as well do it properly.