Opera North Cancels Production of Lee Hall and Harvey Brough’s Beached

Opera North has canceled plans to present Tony Award winner Lee Hall’s community opera, Beached, which was to have debuted in Bridlington on July 15, according to published reports.

The piece, with music by composer Harvey Brough, was commissioned by Opera North, and was to involve approximately 400 adults and children.

Hall, who won his Tony for his book to the musical Billy Elliot, wrote a piece in The Guardian on July 3 condemning the decision, which was made after a primary school involved with the production threatened to pull 300 children from it unless changes were made in relation to a gay character featured within the piece. Hall writes, “No one involved will countenance the idea that there could be homophobia at play. The argument is that everyone is just worried about other people’s sensitivities. It amounts to the same thing.”

In a statement on Opera North’s website posted on July 4, General Director Richard Mantle commented, “We have been working with both the librettist, the school and participants to achieve a solution which was appropriate. […] We regret that some people associated with the project have decided to view the decision not to proceed with performances as being based on a homophobic fear on the part of Opera North. This is utterly at odds with the reality of the company’s ethos about inclusivity, diversity and access to all.”