A Midsummer Night’s Dream - Royal Exchange

The theatre has not commented on specifics.

So please can people stop assuming that what has been reported thus far represents what actually created this situation.

We have zero evidence that proves that cancellation was just based on issues with lyrics and an element of the set decoration.

Nothing is clear until there is a definitive statement

Trying to draw conclusions based on reading between the lines doesn't get us any closer to the truth.

Theatres don't cancel shows lightly. It costs them too much.

There is more to this than we yet know.

While what we’ve heard sounds pretty damning, I don’t think it can be classed as evidence.

Nameless comments aren't evidence

There is very little real info on the record from named sources

So taking anything definitive from these newspaper reports is just wrong.

What we know for certain is that performances were cancelled and now the full run has been pulled. We also know that all involved in the production have been fully paid.

The rest is spin and speculation

but did anyone on here actually see one of the few previews.....

It all sounds terribly self-indulgent on the part of the director and cast. If true, the theatre absolutely made the right decision to bin it off.

Alternatively, the theatre knew about how she does things as that interview was some time ago, and i assume they discussed it before anything was started on the show

It is similar to that Globe/Emma Rice fiasco: they weren't a right fit, and things didn't work out. Id probably say the theatre cancelling the show over a few minor things like a rap song and some grafitti is an over-reaction, but im guessing they ll have to give an explanation for wasting thousands at some point. 

We do not know with any degree of certainty that the cancellation was actually down to the lyrics and/or the graffiti.

That idea is just based on nameless, unattributed comments.

Working on the assumption that the lyrics were part of some singalong concept, I think it is legitimate to raise questions about the idea of seeking to force an audience into joining in with political statements to which they may not subscribe or in certain cases actually reject.

We also don't know when the lyrics/series decoration ideas were incorporated into the performance. Theatres do not sit in on every rehearsal and so it is quite possible that the full detail of the production did not become clear until a very late stage.

Theatres do not cancel productions lightly. The costs are too high for this to be common.

This is clearly a very complex situation. Far more involved than anything that has been ascertained for certain.

Everyone has been paid. Ticket holders will have been refunded.

It is a sad situation and not one anyone would like to see repeated.

But relationships in theatre do breakdown. This probably should have been handled better. However theatres do have rights just as creative do.

No-one is 'forced' to partake in an audience like this. I didn't at Strange Loop, I didn't at The Merchant of Venice 1936 and I didn't at A Face In The Crowd last week. I did at The Gods, The Gods, The Gods (also last week) because I was having fun and I wanted to.

Maybe not forced, but a lot of people (myself included) feel awkward with any form of audience participation, political or not.

I remember taking my seat at Pie Shop Sweeney Todd and realising who was going to be the victim for the “elixir” being rubbed into his head. And I was right 😐

What kind of audience participation do those involve?

These are such volatile current political topics that it could be dangerous for people in the audience. Some people are so entrenched in their views that I can imagine them reprimanding others for joining in OR not.