The Firehall Arts Centre has announced it's had to cancel its remounting of the hit January 2016 show The Motherfucker with the Hat due to casting schedule problems.

It had been scheduled for January 2017 in association with Haberdashery Theatre.

The production was to have starred the original cast, with a budget based on a one-week rehearsal period. When advised that two of the five actors wouldn't be available for the 2017 run, the Firehall had to cancel the show due to the fact it would now need to be rebuilt with a three-week rehearsal period, additional technical rehearsals, and new costumes.

The show garnered rave reviews despite the fact there had been controversy over its casting of only one Latino actor cast in a show that features three Latino characters.

In a press statement about cancelling the remount, artistic producer Donna Spencer said: “Stephen Adly Guirgis has written a very important and dramatically well-structured play that speaks to the impact of addiction on all of the characters’ lives. These same issues are very relevant to Vancouver and the inner city neighbourhood in which the Firehall Arts Centre resides. When we chose to produce the play with our partners, it was indeed these issues that we felt needed to be heard by our audiences.

 "The Firehall and our colleagues at Haberdashery Theatre have heard the concerns that were expressed by the Latino theatre community regarding the casting of two of the roles in the production and, should a new production of the work be undertaken in the future, will approach the casting and auditioning for the work in a different manner.

 “At this time, I would like to thank our colleagues at Haberdashery Theatre and the cast and creative team from the January 2016 production. All of their work was of very high caliber, garnering the production a Jessie Award nomination for ‘Outstanding Production – Large Theatre’ and nominations for ‘Outstanding Performance in a Lead Role’ for cast members John Cassini and Lori Triolo.”

 The Firehall Arts Centre says it is considering other projects to replace this production, and in doing so will continue its long-standing commitment to creating and supporting work that is reflective of the cultural pluralism of Canada. Playwrights and theatre, dance, and inter-disciplinary companies who have projects that may be of interest to the Firehall Arts Centre’s audiences are encouraged to contact Donna Spencer.