It was almost exactly a year ago that the BBC received some 45,000 complaints (orchestrated by Christian Voice, Mediawatch-UK and other religious groups) over its screening of a filmed version of the stage hit Jerry Springer – the Opera; and some 25 years since the National Theatre premiered Howard Brenton’s The Romans in Britain, over which Mary Whitehouse famously brought a private prosecution against its director Michael Bogdanov for having “procured” an act of gross indecency, in a case that was subsequently aborted mid-trial (which was the only kind of abortion that she would actually tolerate).
Both controversies look like being simultaneously re-ignited now, as Jerry Springer commences a national tour at Plymouth Theatre Royal from January 27, and Romans receives its first major British revival since its original production at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre from February 2. As if this isn’t enough, Gilbert and George – iconic artists who are no strangers to controversy themselves – are unveiling their new show at Hoxton’s White Cube Gallery, entitled “Sonofagod Pictures: Was Jesus Heterosexual?” and includes images of Christ on the cross.
The protestors are already galvanising themselves, where in Plymouth they have found allies in the local branch of the BNP, no less. But let us hope that the example of the events at the Birmingham Rep of December 2004, when it premiered an Asian play called Behzti that was withdrawn after protests at the theatre developed into full-scale riots, are not repeated.
