An incident in which racial abuse was directed at the cast and crew of a production of The Lion King musical in Dublin has been described as "vile" and "absolutely shameful".
It happened last Friday night near the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre as performers and crew members made their way home.
The theatre has described it as vile and appalling.
In a statement, they said: “Bord Gáis Energy Theatre and Disney Theatrical Productions strongly condemn all forms of discrimination.
“We fully stand with the performers and crew and have put plans in place to support those affected by this incident.”
The incident has now been referred to gardaí.
— Bord Gáis Energy Theatre (@BGETheatre) January 31, 2022
Claudia Hoareau from the Irish Network Against Racism spoke to Lunchtime Live about the incident.
She said: “I wasn’t surprised, but I think it’s absolutely shameful for Ireland.
“How horrible. How shameful. Of course it’s leaving [the cast] with a bad impression of what it’s like to live here.
“Think of all the other people - people of colour and ethnic minorities - who live in Ireland and who experience racism daily going home from work.
“You take that stuff home with you - you’re not going to experience racism on the street and leave it there. It’s going to impact your family, your friends and wider communities… it’s so much more damaging than people realise.”
She said “it’s not good enough” to brush racism off as simply drunken behaviour or banter.
“I’ve no words"
Jade Jordan - an actress and co-author of Nanny, Ma and Me: An Irish Story of Family, Race and Home - said she's both "surprised and not surprised" that this has happened.
She observed: "I know it’s a thing that’s happening.
“I just don’t really know what more we can do as humans. It’s such a horrible incident for someone to go through - as you’re leaving your workplace. It’s not OK, and it’s not acceptable anymore.
“I’ve no words, really.”
She said racism is a “thing that happens daily” on Irish streets.
She observed: “I’ve had a fair share of it. I haven't had anything for a while.
"I was racially abused on Dublin streets at Christmas time two years ago - a man just threw out a word at me that he shouldn’t have used.”
She said she thinks Ireland is making progress overall, with more people speaking out about the racism they've experienced here.
However, she added: "You think you're taking a step forward, and then something like this happens.
"It's not everyone in Ireland... but it's just so sad that it's happening on our island."
