"Moonfleece"

Dear Sir

I was shocked at reports that Philip Ridley's play "Moonfleece" has been banned from the Mill Theatre in Sedgley. This is one of a series of plays for young people, and deals with racism, homophobia and the BNP. The play's author, Philip Ridley has won a number of awards, including the Smarties Prize for his children's novel "Krindlekrax". The production, by a visiting company, should have opened on 1st April at the theatre, which is situated within Dormston School. The school apparently cancelled the booking because of "concerns that some of the issues raised within the play may not have been suitable for a community school setting".

Whatever one may think about the validity of the reasons given by the school, the decision is highly regrettable. It was equally regrettable when the Birmingham Rep banned Gurdeep Kaur Bhatti's play "Behzti" because of protests from some members of the Sikh community. Democracy cannot survive if this type of censorship becomes the norm.

It is to Margaret Thatcher's credit that her government provided protection for novelist Salman Rushdie when he faced death threats over his book "The Satanic Verses".

Yours sincerely

Chris Bramall,

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate,

Stourbridge constituency

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Published and promoted by Simon Hanson on behalf of Chris Bramall (Liberal Democrats),

both at 53 Chawn Hill, Stourbridge, West Midlands, DY9 7JA.