05/09/2023
Our lovely opera '1944 Home Fires', an optimistic piece about people who are wildly different somehow finding something in common and supporting each other, has been banned by the Ministry of Justice. We were due to be in HMP Wormwood Scrubs this afternoon performing for prisoners, staff and ex-staff, but the plug was pulled at the last minute with no explanation, leaving a potential audience of hundreds deeply disappointed and frustrated. The story was covered well in the Main Online, which is ironic since we believe that the ban resulted from fears that the story could have been worked up into a weapon in the Woke Wars.
This is the Mail story:
Prison chiefs axe gay opera telling imagined love story of Ivor Novello and 'Mad' Frankie Fraser at Wormwood Scrubs with less than a week's notice
By TOM COTTERILL
Prison bosses have axed a gay opera telling the imagined love story of Ivor Novello and 'Mad' Frankie Fraser due to be staged at one of Britain's most notorious jails.
The production of 1944: Home Fires was set to go ahead at London's Wormwood Scrubs prison but it was axed with just four days' notice, leaving furious organisers 'devastated'.
The show's producer claimed the decision to pull the plug on the opera - which had been in the works for two months - was because jail bosses feared negative press coverage. But the Prison Service said the show was not 'the best use of officers' time'.
The opera, which is now scheduled to take place elsewhere in London later this week, is based on the time that singer, actor and composer Ivor Novello spent in prison in 1944. Novello, who was one of the most popular entertainers in the first half of the 20th century, was gay and jailed for misuse of petrol coupons.
Produced by Homo Promos, the stage show envisages Novello sharing a cell with violent gangster Fraser, who spent 42 years behind bars for crimes including bank robbery. He is said to have been in Wormwood Scrubs at the same time as Novello.
The production of 1944: Home Fires was set to go ahead at London's Wormwood Scrubs prison but was axed with just four days' notice, leaving organisers 'devastated' (pictured is the production company's announcement on Instagram)
The show's producer claimed the decision to pull the plug on the opera - which had been in the works for two months - was because Prison Service bosses feared it could lead to negative press coverage.
Gangster ' Mad' Frankie Fraser (left) spent more than half his life in jail and was said to have been at Wormwood Scrubs at the same time of popular entertainer Ivor Novello (right) - who was jailed for the misuse of petrol coupons.
The opera's website says: 'This almost-true story explores class war, electric shock treatment, the nature of masculinity â and how to rebuild a life you think is in ruins.'
But on Saturday, the production firm announced the show had been canned 'with no explanation' from the Prison Service.
In a statement on the production company's Instagram, producer Peter Scott-Presland said: 'We are devastated. This was going to be the high point of the tour and a homage to a great gay icon.
'To cancel at four days' notice without any reason given is unbelievably unprofessional and a great step back in the progress the Prison Service has been making towards equality and diversity.
'We can only apologise to all those staff and inmates who were looking forward to this show, many of whom were LGBT+ themselves and looked to this to give some sort of affirmation.'
Mr Scott-Presland claimed he had approached the west London jail 'two and a half month ago' with the idea to stage the show 'in situ' at Wormwood Scrubs.
Speaking to The Times, he claimed the prison's neurodiversity support manager said they would 'love to' have opera performed in the jail - which has been home to some of Britain's most ruthless killers, including Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe and Moors murderer Ian Brady.
The producer admitted he was 'gobsmacked' by the initial show of support from the jail and wanted to 'encourage' it, sending a script to the jail for bosses to read.
The opera, which is now scheduled to take place elsewhere in London later this week, is based on the time that singer, actor and composer Ivor Novello (pictured) spent in prison in 1944
However, following two site visits - the last on Wednesday - Mr Scott-Presland said he received an email on Friday saying the show was being cancelled under orders from the senior chiefs at the Prison Service.
'No reason was given whatsoever. I get the impression that although some staff are really keen on doing this sort of support work for LGBT prisoners and so on, there are other people who are absolutely paranoid in the Prison Service and probably the Home Office as well that this is going to become a weapon in the woke wars, that the right-wing tabloids are going to get hold of it,' the 74-year-old told The Times.
A Prison Service spokeswoman told MailOnline: 'The Prison Service is proud to be an inclusive employer but facilitating this event would not, at the moment, have been the best use of officers' time at Wormwood Scrubs.'
The show is being staged on Wednesday at London's Tower Theatre.
ENDS
This was largely taken from a similar story in the Times [see picture] though they did have the grace to publicise THE LAST PERFORMANCE ON WED SEPT 6TH AT THE TOWER THEATRE, NORTHWOLD ST., N16. [Tickets from here - https://rebrand.ly/home-fires-6]
We were very careful in preparing for this. The prison had the score, the script and a link to our website about ten weeks ago. We talked to the press office about where we should release the story - they wanted us to avoid the nationals for fear that it would encourage trolls. This was couched in terms of fear for our safety, which rather reminded me of the tactics of employers in the 1970s and 80s when they sacked gay employees: "We've got nothing against g**s, you understand, but some of our customers/staff might not like it." In other words, blame the victim. This was perfectly legal at the time.
But the Press Office approved the press release itself, and the distribution list.
To cancel at four days' notice is unbelievably unprofessional, and potentially financially crippling. These are the costs of going into the Scrubs:
Cast fees 800.00
Orchestra fees 600.00
Conductor 200.00
Stage Director 200.00
Lighting technician 100.00
Stage Manager 100.00
Purchase of lights 87.92
Piano Tuner 90.00
Insurance 100.00
Photographer 250.00
Travel to site visits 40.00
TOTAL 2567.92
We have an application in to the National Lottery Heritage Fund scheme for this specific performance, which we will now have to scrap, leaving us to foot the bill.
There is no other explanation for this than homophobia. It would never have happened to a company called, for example. "STRAIGHT ACTING".
