This has been the law since 1976. I am not aware of any actors being prosecuted under that law. The change which the Bill would make is to extend the legal test from race to other protected characteristics (eg stirring up hatred on the ground of sexuality or disability). https://twitter.com/radioclydenews/status/1305120257699446784

On the interpretation suggested in that thread, it has been a serious criminal offence for an actor to play a racist character for over four decades. I don’t believe that’s correct. Depicting racism and stirring up racism are two very different things.

I understand the concerns expressed here, although this one perplexes me - it suggests that there is huge concern amongst actors about the law but that theatres are simultaneously unaware of it, which seems surprising. https://twitter.com/radioclydenews/status/1305120258957737985

There are, however, valid arguments for amending the Bill and my reading of the political situation (disclaimer: not my forte) is that this is what is likely to happen. But some of the effects claimed for the Bill seem at best unlikely.