A theatre has pulled a song from a production of Mother Goose after complaints it could lead to vegans being bullied. The lyric was part of a performance of this year’s panto at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
Some members of the audience reportedly complained about a line which said “G stands for gassy while the A stands for anaemic or annoying”.
The Everyman Theatre said its pantomime is a live production which is constantly being “refined and improved”. A spokesperson for the venue said: “The creative team behind this year’s production continuously evaluates all aspects of the performance in order to create the best, most entertaining experience for the audience possible.”
They added: “Pantomime is a uniquely collaborative art form where the audience is very much a part of the show and we respect all of our audience’s views and comments.
“The relationship between our amazingly talented cast and the audience is what makes pantomime special and makes each and every performance a singular live event.”
Promoted as a “fun-filled, family adventure”, the theatre warns potential audience members in a statement on its website that while panto “is a lot of fun”, it can include jokes “only grown-ups will understand”.
It warns: “Please bear this in mind if you are bringing anyone under the age of 5, or anyone with a nervous or more sensitive disposition.”
Panto favourite Linda Lusardi lashed out over trigger warnings about harmful content after Cambridge University Theatre included descriptions for its Christmas shows in 2021.
Lusardi, who has 30 years of experience in panto, told GMB the average pantomime doesn’t need a warning and children shouldn’t be wrapped in cotton wool.
A production of Aladdin with an all-white cast, featuring the lyric ‘come on down to our oriental town’ was condemned as racist last year.
The production starred stage actor Scott Sutcliffe in the title role, Coronation Street’s Connor McIntyre as Abanazar and The Voice contestant Kelsey Beth Crossley as Princess Jasmine.
Actor Irvine Iqbal, who appeared as the Sultan in the West End production of Aladdin, demanded an “industry wide conversation” about casting.
