#71 - Greg Carruthers of EveryBODY On Stage: Fatphobia in the Theatre Industry

“People are dying from your fatphobia and that’s wild. We are so
hung up on the way theatre has looked forever that we can’t change
our perspective enough to literally save people’s lives.”  TW:
Discussion of eating disorders. I found Greg on TikTok. Greg is the
founder of EveryBODY on Stage, which aims to break down stigma and
fat-phobia in the arts. There is such multi-layered dialogue when
it comes to each person’s experience. Being a CoVid long hauler
changed my body by gaining weight – and even when I find the
positives and self love when it comes to myself, my body, and the
industry, it’s rooted in privilege.  And when it comes to
weight and age – why is it that a bigger body in educational
theatre equals playing someone older or someone not worthy of love?
How does that affect someone in their formative years? Why is it we
are praised for losing weight, even when it’s done in an unhealthy
way? Greg and I breakdown how fatphobia dominates the theatre
industry, while shedding light on the people who are doing their
best to fix this. Plus, we also get into how Funny Girl on Broadway
battled responses based in fatphobia and anti-semitism and how as
an industry, we need to move forward by communicating with
kindness.  Please note – the group I talk about in the episode
who’s name slips my mind is The Industry Standard Group (TISG) who
are innovating Broadway by finding new pathways toward equitable
representation in commercial theatre. Also, use the code “MULTI” at
the EveryBODY on Stage store for a discount at
https://www.everybodyonstage.com/ “There is this narrative that a
fat body is bad and ugly and gross. I’m done with that. I don’t
care if other people find me attractive because I don’t need that
anymore. I am happy in my body and I deserve to take up space in
this body. So, like, I don’t know… get into it society.”  Greg
Carruthers (he/him, she/her) is a Toronto-based choreographer,
actor and body-positive activist (@EveryBODYonStage). Hailing from
Bradford, Ontario, Greg studied Music Theatre Performance at St.
Lawrence College which recently nominated him for an Ontario
Premier's Award. Greg has choreographed for Theatre Sheridan, Hart
House Theatre, Canada’s Wonderland, The Madinat Theatre (Dubai),
and the July 1st ceremonies at Queens Park (Toronto). As a
performer, Greg was most recently seen on the 1st National Tour of
'Trey Parker's Cannibal the Musical'. As the Artistic Producer and
Founder of EveryBODY on Stage, Greg has produced projects for
Musical Stage Co’s “Musical Moments” and Buddies in Bad Times
“Queer Pride Festival”. With funding from the Canada Council for
the Arts, Greg conceived, choreographed and produced a short film
titled "Cell Block Tango: Reimagined" which was screened as part of
the Toronto Outdoor Picture Show. Greg is very excited to be
choreographing "Into The Woods" at the Grand Theatre in London this
fall as well as developing a new queer musical and a dance film.
www.everybodyonstage.com  Instagram: @gregcarruthers 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices