The Royal Court Theatre’s artistic director is Dominic Cooke. This is the man who happily staged the racist play Seven Jewish Children at his theatre, claiming that he likes to present “a multiplicity of viewpoints”. However, when he was offered to stage Seven Other Children, a superb play written in response to the antisemitism of Seven Jewish Children, he refused.
Cooke’s a man of many surprises. In October 2008 he spoke out against timidity and censorship. The following month he said he “likes dissent”. So guess who recently called in lawyers to prevent the publication of his rationalisation of his refusal to stage Seven Other Children? Why, it’s Mr anti-timidity and anti-censorship but pro-dissent himself, Dominic Cooke!
What a muppet.
Update: Check out Harry’s Place for an effortless exposure of the latest bull from the Royal Court. I am beginning to think that “muppets” was too kind a description.
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The lawyer thing really was heavy handed. I wonder why he wouldn’t be proud to have the world see his letters if he really felt there was a strong case for not putting on the play?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/letters/4691028/The-laws-duty-is-to-protect-the-innocent-not-to-make-them-prove-their-innocence.html
“However, we are at a loss to understand how the decision accords with the comment by the associate director of the Royal Court that he would be reluctant to stage a play critical of Islam”
Another example of the hypocrisy of the muppets at the Royal Court……
I say that they should nevertheless read out the letter in full at every performance. Then let him sue. I would gladly help to fund the lawsuit, as would most people who read this forum. And the publicity of this bullying of a theatre against a playwright will be very “informative”, to say the least.
He’s a prick. I’ll never darken that theatre’s door again, and I’ll write to their sponsors explaining why.
Chas – I don’t think it’s nice to compare this guy to those two wonderful old codgers from the Muppet Show… I love those guys (and the rest of the cast – especially the chickens)!
Why the picture swap? Did he threaten to call in lawyers because you didn’t have the rights to it?!
Haha! No, I just thought the above pair might be more fun as illustration rather than a photo of the brave, anti-censorship Cooke!
Today’s Evening Standard, lead item in Londoner’s Diary:
http://londonersdiary.standard.co.uk/2009/05/gaza-drama-now-played-out-on-stage.html