London, UK : The British tour of Jerry Springer The Opera could be cancelled because of threats from certain Christian groups. Regional theatres told producers that they feared being targeted by an extreme evangelical group if they staged the show.
“It is endangering the UK tour,” a spokesman for the show said to The Times Online. “The venues are worried about being picketed by Christian Voice.”
Stephen Green, the leader of Christian Voice, told The Times that he planned to target theatres aggressively. “The producers think there will be a UK tour, but we will see how it pans out,” Mr Green said. “We will be picketing theatres.”
Derby Assembly Rooms, a council-run theatre, is among those reconsidering whether to stage the show. “If the BBC can’t cope with Christian Voice, then it is highly unlikely that we can,” a spokeswoman said. “It is dreadful what happened to the cancer charity. We had been hoping to have the show this autumn but that is not going to happen now. Hopefully we could do it some time next year, but it is all still up in the air. If there are more episodes like this, it will certainly affect the decision-making.”
Not all Christian groups agree with the Christian Voice.
Reverend Sheila Maxey, moderator of the United Reformed Church, said that "Christian Voice was 'a disgrace' and not representative of the Christian community, which it was in danger of bringing into disrepute."
A spokesman for the Church of England said: “It is absolutely not what we would expect people in the Church of England to identify with as being a correct or kind way to behave towards others. People should be encouraged to show kindness and compassion to others and should not be in the business of stifling that.”
Jerry Springer The Opera has come under scrutiny after the BBC aired the musical, causing thousands of complaints from viewers. BBC executives received death threats as well. Recently a cancer charity turned down money raised by the show after urgings from the Christian Voice.
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