Kristin Scott Thomas Criticizes Male Theatre Critics' Understanding of Women's Stories
Kristin Scott Thomas has voiced strong criticism regarding male theatre critics, stating they often fail to grasp plays written by and about women. The acclaimed actress made these remarks while accepting the inaugural leading light award at the Women’s prize for playwriting ceremony in London.
Scott Thomas stated that male theatre critics often fail to understand plays written by and about women.
Scott Thomas highlighted her powerful monologue on menstruation in Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s hit show Fleabag. She noted its significant online impact as clear evidence of a strong demand for female-centric narratives. She emphasized the crucial importance of women playwrights for her career.
The Reception of Lyonesse
Referring to her recent stage role in Penelope Skinner’s 2023 play Lyonesse, Scott Thomas observed a distinct pattern: while the play attracted robust audiences, it garnered divided critical responses. She suggested that many reviews penned by men did not reflect an understanding of experiences such as being a working mother or a child-free actress, commenting that critics "mostly hated" the play.
Scott Thomas recounted a specific instance where a male critic described a female character's lament about her vagina as unrealistic. This observation underpinned her advocacy for women to write and share their own authentic experiences. She also credited Waller-Bridge's writing for significantly advancing public discourse on "female problems," contributing to positive shifts in public perception.
Addressing Gender Inequality in Theatre
The Women’s prize for playwriting, established in 2019, was founded with the explicit aim of addressing persistent gender imbalance in theatre. Organizers consistently highlight that women remain under-represented both as playwrights and in senior creative roles across the sector.
Evidence of this disparity is clear: research published by The Stage in 2022 revealed that approximately three-quarters of writers in UK theatre that year were men. Furthering this point, a 2023 report from Sphinx Theatre’s "women in theatre" survey identified ongoing structural barriers for women, including significant challenges like caring responsibilities and unequal commissioning opportunities.
Ellie Keel, co-founder of the prize, concurred with Scott Thomas's sentiments, expressing agreement that plays by women often receive different critical receptions. She cited Lyonesse as an example, noting it was reviewed as a "very mediocre play" despite her own belief to the contrary, implying that women writers are frequently held to different standards. Keel firmly stated that improved critical standards from male critics are unequivocally needed.
Critical reviews for Lyonesse were indeed varied. The Stage's male critic, Dave Fargnoli, awarded the play four stars, while female critics Arifa Akbar and Fiona Mountford each gave it two stars. Scott Thomas reiterated her unwavering dedication to supporting female writers.