Scottish Opera withdraws from award over ‘yellowface’ criticism

SCOTTISH Opera has withdrawn its nomination for the South Bank Sky Arts awards following criticism of its use of “yellowface” make-up in its production of Nixon in China.

The production, which depicts the 1972 meeting of Mao Zedong and President Nixon, was condemned on social media by Labour MP Sarah Owen for the performers’ “exaggerated winged eye makeup” and by opera singer Julian Chou-Lambert for the fact that only two of the six lead Chinese roles were given to Asian performers.

However, some critics have said that it was simply lighting effects used to portray the Mao who was in poor health and approaching death.

In a statement, Scottish Opera said: “We intended to portray the character of Chairman Mao as old and in ill-health and in no way were we trying to change his ethnicity.

“We actively encourage performers of all ethnicities to appear at Scottish Opera and had a range within the cast of this production. However, we accept there is a lot more work still to be done as we prepare for future productions.”