Ali White’s experience with Michael Colgan

Ali was interviewed on October 29th for The Sunday Times about her experience with Michael Colgan, now,  this is her full account. 

Ali is the 6th woman to share her experience on my blog, she joins myself, Ella Clarke, Annette Clancy, Ciara Elizabeth Smyth and Ruth Gordon. 

Seven women spoke to Laurence Mackin of The Irish Times. 

In total, 13 women have now spoken publicly about their experiences with Michael Colgan. 

“In 1999 I was cast in Catastrophe and two other short plays, for the Gate Theatre’s Beckett Festival at the Barbican in London. We rehearsed in Dublin. As the Gate had produced this festival twice before, I didn’t have the usual meeting actors have with the costume designer; but I assumed it would be the medical white coat and court shoes which I’d seen in the previous production shots, and which I’d worn in rehearsal. I mention this, as what I was wearing had an impact on what happened later.

Before a photo shoot for the London press, I was told to go to the Barbican wardrobe department. I don’t know who had given the instructions to the wardrobe staff, but the white coat was taken up and taken in, and I was given a tight belt, a push-up bra and hold-ups. I felt very uncomfortable. I was in a Beckett play, and I looked like an awkward Benny Hill Angel. I was due on stage and there was no time to discuss why the changes had been made.

I went down to The Pit theatre where the photographers were waiting. Michael Colgan, the producer of the festival, was sitting in the stalls. At one point in the play, my character threw herself into a low armchair. Due to the alterations in my costume, this was now difficult/impossible to do with much dignity, but I did my best - at which point MC called out:  “Close your legs – I’m a vegetarian.” It got a laugh.

I’m no stranger to strong language, and I love a well-timed funny line, but I was appalled. I was at work and in the presence of the press. I felt humiliated. And more than that – I felt I’d been subject to “the special cocktail of venom and ridicule which is always tinged with the sexual threat” as Meryl Streep has so eloquently put it.

Later in the Green Room, I told Michael that what he said had been out of order. He brushed it off - it was a joke. He invited me to go with him to a party at Paul McGuinness’s house. He told me it would be good for my career. I declined the invitation. Politely, of course. I didn’t want to jeopardize future work.

Although I was called for a couple of auditions at the Gate over the intervening years and was offered a small part in a Gate production last year, which I was unable to do, I never worked at the theatre again.

Since this incident happened, I had often spoken about it to friends and colleagues. I knew I was not alone in feeling compromised by MC’s behavior. I also, despite everything, had liked Michael. But after other women began to speak out publicly about his abuse of power, I felt it was important to add my voice to theirs.”