Jerry Springer Show set to Tour Amid Threats of Protests

The controversial musical of Jerry Springer – The Opera will open in Manchester and 20 other regional theatres despite threats by Christian campaigners to protest outside Manchester’s Opera House when the show arrives in the city on March 20 next year.
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Previously, one third of the venues had backed down on plans to show the musical after receiving threats of protests by religious pressure group Christian Voice, according to Manchester Online.

The tour which was originally scheduled to start this month was put off after viewers complained about the broadcast of the musical on BBC in January this year.

The show was watched by over two million people and some 45,000 people complained to the BBC about the screening, according to Manchester Online. Reportedly protesters had camped outside BBC’s headquarters in Oxford Road and some BBC executives reported receiving death threats from extremists after the broadcast.

A BBC executive was forced into hiding after receiving a death threat and many regional theatres feared the similar treatment, according to Independent.

The Independent newspaper reported that Stephen Green, the national director of Christian Voice, has announced the organisation's intention to prosecute any venue that shows the Jerry Springer show.

The Independent reports that Green said, "Many theatres are supported by public money |QUOTE|and the use of council taxpayers' money to subsidise an offensive, disgusting, blasphemous production will be hard for councillors to justify."

But theatres have joined forces and a deal was agreed upon with the producers, Avalon, for a smaller tour starting in January next year, despite threats of protests. The Independent newspaper has reported that Stuart Griffiths, the chief executive of the Birmingham Hippodrome, said that the tour venues were "absolutely keen" it should go ahead.

In the report he said: "I respect the right of people to be against it if they wish, but it's a good piece of theatre. It would have sent out a very bad message if the tour hadn't happened. Those who opposed it would have claimed victory and that would be a very dangerous place to be."

But the Bishop of Manchester, the Right Rev Nigel McCulloch, who described the TV broadcast of the musical as “gratuitously offensive” said he has no problem with the show coming to the city.

|TOP|He said there was a “big difference” of issues because people could choose whether to buy a ticket, according to Manchester Online. "This production has been on stage before and there is a big difference between something on the television and the stage.

"I have no great concern about what goes on on-stage because people can make their own decision to pay to go. That is quite different from something being beamed into someone's home."

Bishop McCulloch said people had a right to “peaceful protest” but warned that violence or threats of violence are not acceptable.

He said, "I want to distance myself completely from the kind of thing that happened after the televised performance when the lives of people were threatened.

"That is reprehensible and has nothing to do with any Christian concern."