Remember our prior article about fat representation in media and discussion of the movie The Whale? Let’s talk about representation done right! It was on a smaller scale and for a brief run, but we want to share all the good moments with you!
R/J was based on Romeo and Juliet, a Shakespeare classic, but not the way you have seen it before! It was completely rewritten by a duo of queer theater activists and featured fat, queer, trans, non-binary, and BIPOC actors.
The Strand Theater Co located in Baltimore, MD was the stage for one of the best, most relatable, inclusive productions we have ever witnessed.
Fat Representation in R/J Delivered!
There were so many poignant moments within this show. One of the most relevant to our readers would be the scene where Juliet, played and created by Betse Lyons (she/her), discusses her experiences with fatphobia.
For some context, although there are some parts of this show that were pulled from the Shakespeare script, there were also additions of modern-day language, social media, and pop culture references, especially within the music selection.
The topic of fatphobia comes up in the second half of the show. Juliet is told by her lesbian parents that she is going to be forced into a marriage…
