Geraldine

BBC's Woman's Hour had a prolonged discussion about the matter yesterday and I understand they have a noticeboard for comments by
women on the issue. You are quite right, Geraldine, that the underlying matters are about gender, religion is a patina over the
surface of it all. I saw the reality of all this in action today, while having a Christmas drink with some friends, a woman who was
in our company was physically threatened by this pissed-up bloke, he actually came over to our table with a chair in his hands
threatening to hit her with it. To say it caused consternation would be the understatement of the century, especially as two of the
people, one male one female, were disabled, I just turned round and looked at him and he retreated, BUT the thing was the management
did NOT eject him from the premises, it was sort of ok that he behaved in that way because the lady in our group had done the
terrible sin of speaking out. I am fuming about it

All the Best and Merry Jingles

Dave



David Bircumshaw

Spectare's Web, A Chide's Alphabet
& Painting Without Numbers

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/david.bircumshaw/


----- Original Message -----
From: "Geraldine Monk" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, December 23, 2004 12:03 AM
Subject: Re: Behzti theatre protest


Yes that's my understanding of it David.  That the playwright herself has
requested a withdrawal due to murder threats and violence.  The lack of
outrage from M.P's and other public figures is outrageous in itself.

I think the real reason for the protests is a fear that her play may
encouraged abuse victims to speak up. Religion has nothing or very little to
do with it.  The worrying thing is this is before that bill Blunkett had up
his sleeve about inciting religious hatred hasn't even come in.  Well - I
hate religions and nothing but religions themselves has incited me to hate
them.  So maybe we should lock up all religious leaders for inciting hatred
of their own religions!!!

Must dash my dears,

All the very best of midwinter madness to all of you,
Enjoy the snow,
Geraldine

----- Original Message -----
From: "david.bircumshaw" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 2004 11:18 PM
Subject: Re: Behzti theatre protest


> Hi Rupert
>
> I've been trying to track Neil Foster's statements myself, the latest seem
> to be that he withdrew the production offer at the
> request of the playwright, who had received further death threats if
> anything he proposed happened, apparently. What I understand
> was that the idea wasn't a full production of the play but a read-through
> on stage. I am of course not directly connected with any
> of this so my statements might be innaccurate. Meantime, although I
> haven't been back to the place for six years, I do very
> emotional about stuff like this happening in my dear dirty scruffy stupid
> Brummagem, it was where I grew up, and its stamped on me
> for life, you should hear my accent!
>
> Best
>
> Dave
>
>
> David Bircumshaw
>
> Spectare's Web, A Chide's Alphabet
> & Painting Without Numbers
>
> http://homepage.ntlworld.com/david.bircumshaw/
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "mallin1" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 2004 6:24 PM
> Subject: Re: Behzti theatre protest
>
>
> Dear Patrick, Dave and Alison
>
> A complexity indeed re the banning of 'Behzti.' Once again, tomorrow's BBC
> Radio 4 'Woman's Hour' will alone provide a forum on the issue through a
> discussion with Sikh and Asian women about the issues raised by the play
> and
> its censorship. Meanwhile, two things have happened overnight. One self
> appointed 'defender' of the play, Neil Foster, who was all over the media
> attacking the Birmingham Rep for taking off the play - then, having
> offered
> an
> alternative venue in Birmingham, has suddenly withdrawn the offer. Things
> become complicated if one doesn't quite grasp the idea of 'respect' all
> ways
> round.
>
> Neil Foster is right on one particular: the government's junior minister
> was
> not supportive of the playwright! That is, art must be 'community art,' in
> the worst sense. In the meantime, the High Catholic Bishop of all England
> has suggested that playwrights should impose "self-censorship" on
> themselves - taking us way back into the 'confessional' box the 20th
> Century
> wonderfully opened.
>
> What worries me more, is that the likes of Max Stafford-Clark, who
> produced
> the late Jim Allen's 'Perdition' at the Royal Court, has offered nothing
> to
> defend 'Behzti.' However, one who really seems to have given support in
> his
> wide ranging understanding is David Edgar.
>
> Alison, it surely is Sarah Kane's 'Blasted' revisited. It is very much a
> gender issue -- and so much more: the invisibilty of women in a near
> invisible religion/race; a generational issue between older immigrant
> Sikhs
> and their more international offspring; government using the institutions
> of
> faith to further divide people; and the US-UK neo-con drive to 'dum down'
> art.
>
> This is not just a theatre issue. The substance is an attack on ideas, on
> poetry. The playwright is in hiding fearing for her life. It is a crime
> that
> she has been silenced. Without her voice, we're all losers.
>
> Take care, Rupert
>