National Theatre takes a stand – Mary Whitehouse spins in grave

Interesting report in the Daily Telegraph.

Nicholas Hytner, artistic director of the National Theatre, has unveiled an uncompromising program of plays for the next twelve months. Affirming that the theatre has a duty to explore contemporary issues, however controversial, the magnificent Mr Hytner resolved to defy all attempts by religious pressure groups to censor its dramas.

A quote from The Scotsman:

I hope we’re going to be as bold as we always have been. I’m absolutely determined that we won’t hold back.

The situation in Birmingham was complicated and fraught with ludicrous ironies.

Birmingham Rep was let down by those responsible for the law and order in the streets of Birmingham.

One play sure to stoke the fires of religious intolerance is by Romans in Britain playwright Howard Brenton. It deals with the life of St Paul, the inventor of Christianity. Although Hytner refused to give details, he said the play was likely to prove the National’s “toughest drama of the year”, and

There may be Christians who don’t want to see the faith of St Paul examined by Howard Brenton. It does not conform to the absolute truth that fundamentalist Christians believe.”

Romans in Britain was subject to a failed private prosecution by Mediawatch-UK’s mother Mary Whitehouse, and Brenton’s latest may well inspire similar indignation in her successor, John Beyer.

Sensitive readers of St Paul’s epistles will notice a distinct blip on their gaydars. Which is fine by us, of course, except that he was also a misogynist, a homophobe, and had a weird obsession with hairstyles.

It is good to see the director of such a flagship theatre take a stand for freedom of expression. Let’s just hope the authorities back him up if things turn nasty.


Comments are closed.