AN AMATEUR operatic group made up entirely of white members has had to cancel a production of the classic musical, Showboat, because the owners of the show's copyright say it is racist to black up actors' faces.

Worthing Operatic Society was planning to use make-up for the lead singers and chorus in next autumn's show at the Pavilion Theatre.

But the Rogers and Hammerstein company, which holds Showboat's copyright, has issued orders that only black actors can play black parts.

Worthing Opera Society's production manager, Joyce Mitchell-Harris, is angry at what she calls a "restrictive" rule.

She said: "There's no way we can perform it like that. We don't have enough black people down here in this area.

"We have to fill all the lead and chorus parts. If we get the principals, we still wouldn't have enough people to play the other parts."

None of Worthing Operatic Society's 50 members are black and it is at present considering alternative productions for next year, including South Pacific and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

Ms Mitchell-Harris added: "Actors used to black up in the past. It gets a little bit silly. It means the show can't be done by any

amateur groups other than in areas with lots of black people.

"It's all such a shame because no one's done Showboat for quite a while.

"It would be absolutely great if 15 or 20 black actors turned up, but I can't see it happening."

Rogers and Hammerstein's London-based representatives, Weinberger, are continuing to enforce the rule despite the protest.

Spokeswoman Emma Lovatt said: "It has been made explicit that the black characters have to be played by black actors. It's bit overdue really.

"It cannot be shown unless it can be guaranteed. Other shows have the same restriction, like Porgy and Bess and Carmen Jones. It's been like this in America for a long time."

A Commission for Racial Equality spokesman said: "It seems to us it is a matter for a director or a producer of a play.

"We would only be involved if someone said they had a perfectly good black actor for the part but said they were going to use a white one instead."

There is a long theatrical tradition of blacking up white actors' faces, a lot of which would be considered extremely racist and offensive today.

Once the Black and White Minstrels, a song and dance troupe which performed Dixieland Jazz routines using the make-up for comic effect, drew in huge television audiences.

On the other hand, Sir Laurence Olivier won acclaim for his performance as Shakespeare's Othello while heavily made up to appear black.

The CRE spokesman added: "If it's just a matter of not having enough people of the right colour, we've never had any problem with someone using make up to make the role more authentic.

"The Worthing show is completely different to the Black and White Minstrels Show, which was created to make black people look clown-like."

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