A theatre in Co Antrim has cancelled two performances of a "blasphemous" play following complaints from a Christian politician.
The play, entitled "The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged)", produced by the Reduced Shakespeare Company, was scheduled for two performances on 29 and 30 January at the Theatre at the Mill in Newtownabbey. Local councillor Billy Ball of the Democratic Unionist Party had called for the play to be banned, saying: "For Christians, the Bible is the infallible word of God and it's not something to be made fun of. These people are treating something sacred with irreverence and disrespect."
As Index on Censorship point out, he had also recently told the Belfast Telegraph: “My wife, councillor Audrey Ball, has recently been put on the artistic board, so I know in future she will speak up for Christianity. Those against her strong beliefs better watch out.” The
The Theatre at the Mill, which is run by Newtonabbey borough council, announced the cancellation in a tweet this morning. The Reduced Shakespeare Company have stressed that the rest of the play's UK tour will continue as planned.
You can see the trailer for the play here:
