Hundreds storm theatre over play

[Tera Pyo]

Hundreds storm theatre over play

Hundreds of Sikhs stormed a Birmingham theatre in protest at a play depicting sex abuse and murder in a temple.

Five police officers were hurt as they struggled to bring the demonstration at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre on Saturday night under control.

Two men were also arrested as the protestors disrupted the performance of the play, entitled Behzti (Dishonour).

A theatre spokeswoman said negotiations would continue with the group who claim the play mocks their religion.


The characters in the play are not intended to be representative of the Sikh community


REP statement

The theatre has been the scene of several protests by members of the Sikh community, angered by author Gurpreet Bhatti's depiction of murder and sex abuse.

She said threats had been made against her and she had been advised by police not to say anything in public.

Saturday night's protest turned violent at 1845 GMT when most of a 400-strong group tried to storm the theatre.

The spokeswoman said: "A large number of these protesters made a concerted effort to get into the theatre to disrupt the performance and this caused damage and disorder."

Five people were arrested after several protests were held outside the building earlier in the week.

'Work of fiction'

The situation on Saturday was brought under control but around 100 protesters remained outside as talks took place with police and management. None of the audience were said to have been hurt.

Earlier in the week, the three main political parties on Birmingham City Council said they were worried about the effects of the play after being contacted by local Sikh community leaders.

The faith leaders had asked for the setting to be changed from a temple to a community centre.

Theatre management insist the play is a work of fiction and no comment is being made about Sikhism as a faith.

Audience statement

The play centres around two characters and is set in a gurdwara, a Sikh temple,

In a statement, the Birmingham Repertory said: "The REP has been transparent with leaders in the Sikh community about the content and nature of the play in discussions over the last few months.

"It has agreed to provide audiences with a statement written by those community members who do not approve of the play.

"The theatre has also made efforts to ensure positive representation of Sikhism as a faith in its programme notes.

"Equally the characters in the play are not intended to be representative of the Sikh community.

"They are works of fiction characterising the fallibility of human nature and the injustice and hypocrisy that exists in the real world."

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/4107437.stm

[Summan]

I could not believe that this woman made a play about it. fair enough it happens/has happnd and people DO KNOW about it, but YES- she has done besti to all the gurudwarae nationwide. she didnt bear in mind that this does NOT happen everywhere, it did not have anything to do with the religon and DID NOT HAVE TO BE BROADCASTED AS A PLAY. even worse stuff has happend in churches- and even hindu temples- but you dont see people making pathetic plays about them.

IF SHE WANTED TO RAISE AWARENESS- she should have gone to her local newspaper company- or did an article in the Des Pardes.

the woman is going to get haunted down by true sikhs- and i do not have any sympathy for the woman.

khothi

[infomer]

the guts of some people - just seen it on telly and this guy wants to act the part in the play , i bet he would not like it if was about his religion

Summan you are right the woman herself has no besti herself her parents must be dieing in shame that they have such a daughter

what goes in schools , churches etc none of the british people have made plays about that yet our own sick minded people using freedom of speech to get a bit of lime light and attention do such great damage to our religion in a matter of mins

just hope all her family disown her totally - she is a major disgrace of the 21st century

The problem here is that she fed a ill thought into peoples mind that such a thing could happen and the security and holyness has been tarnished by her unforgiveable actions

we say phul chuk maf karo - but this is taking the phul chuk to the limits

if she wants to be white then be white and stick to the white culture etc stop using us as a vehicle to getting fame with your theatre goers

[Jasminder]

Just read this somewhere

In her foreword to the programme, she praises Sikhism, before adding: "Clearly the fallibility of human nature means that the simple Sikh principles of equality, compassion, and modesty are sometimes discarded in favour of outward appearance, wealth and the quest for power. I feel that distortion in practice must be confronted and our great ideals must be restored _ I believe that drama should be provocative and relevant. I wrote Behzti because I passionately oppose injustice and hypocrisy."


Ms Bhatti's debut, Behsharam - Shameless - portrayed a dysfunctional Sikh family. She has just finished writing The Cleaner, a film for the BBC, and her first feature film, Pound Shop Boys. Tickets for Behzti have sold out.


she talks about "discarded in favour of outward appearance, wealth and the quest " yet she is making films for BBC is that for free ? yeh and I wrote Behzti because I passionately oppose injustice and hypocrisy."

what hypocrisy in her own words

i say say people or organisations that support individuals that cause public unrest should be ashamed of themselves and should focus the tax payers money on more areas that enrich the community life not make it worse

[jaz]

9:15pm (UK)
Halt Sikh Play, Says Weatherill
The Scotsman

By Andrew Evans, PA Lords Staff


Former Commons Speaker Lord Weatherill tonight joined calls for the cancellation of the controversial stage play Bezhti, which provoked a riot on Saturday night among angry Sikhs in Birmingham.

Lord Weatherill, a practising Anglican and now a crossbench peer, spoke out after news that another theatre company has offered to stage it. Members of the Sikh community claim the play demeans their religion.

The Birmingham Stage Company said today it would be prepared to put on the play after the Birmingham Repertory Theatre scrapped the production on safety grounds.

Lord Weatherill said tonight: “I fully understand the Sikh community’s distress and anger about that play which is on in Birmingham. I hope it has been stopped.”<br>
He was speaking in a Lords debate, opened by the Pakistan-born Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, on enlightened religious attitudes.

Lord Weatherill, an officer in the Indian Army during the Second World War, recalled that his Lancers’ regiment had included a squadron of Sikhs.

His call was echoed by a leading Muslim peer, Labour’s Lord Ahmed, who described the play as “provocative”. “It was deliberately designed to provoke a reaction from ordinary, peace-loving Sikhs,” he said.

Lord Ahmed went on: “I am totally committed to freedom of speech or freedom of the press. However, I believe this has to be balanced with freedom of responsibility.

“Although I condemn violence and physical attacks by any individual or group, I can understand the feelings of the Sikh community in objecting strongly to the fact that a place of worship is depicted as a place where sex, homosexuality and violence occurs.

“Naturally you will get a reaction from those communities.” Lord Ahmed was equally critical of a work of art in Scotland depicting Jesus Christ as a homosexual and of artistic attacks on Muslims.

[jaz]

Sikh play author 'in hiding' after death threats

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/12/22/uthreats.xml&sSheet=/portal/2004/12/22/ixportaltop.html

[jaz]

Fears of Self-Censorship After Sikh Play Ditched


www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=stageNews&storyID=7158502

[jaz]

Sikh play could move to London
By Patrick Sawer, Evening Standard
22 December 2004

www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/londonnews/articles/15492252?source=Evening%20Standard

[jaz]

See the daily mail board

chat.dailymail.co.uk/dailymail/threadnonInd.jsp?forum=105&thread=9671684&message=10740159

[jaz]

guess I got no life but the woman calls herself

"Miss Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti "- 35 and

lives with a
boyfriend Michael Buffong -
a Theatre director -

As reported in the Daily Mail 22/12/2004 page 17

well well now we know its just for a bit extra lolly for the two of them - as usually not for freedom of speech but a ticket to riches by exploiting the Sikhs

[jaz]

Curtain Falls on Sikh Play Bezhti
By James Wray Dec 22, 2004, 14:44 GMT

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The controversial Sikh play Bezhti (dishonour) which provoked violent protests in the UK city of Birmingham looks like it will not be re-staged elsewhere.

The production depicts scenes of rape and murder inside a Sikh temple. This sparked angry protests outside the Birmingham's Repertory Theatre over the weekend. Leading to the theatre's director pulling the show over fears they could not guarantee the safety of staff or audiences.

Sikh protesters say Bezhti is blasphemous and offensive. Following last Saturday's protest, which descended into stone throwing and clashes with the police, a spokesman for the protesters said they were exercising their democratic right to object to something they disagree with.

Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, the author of the play, has now said she does not want it to be re-staged. Theatre manager Neal Foster, who offered to stage the play at the Birmingham Stage Company, said "The plan I came up with was to invite theatres across the country to read the play and discuss it afterwards, to have a debate so there was more understanding about the whole issue.

"I was proceeding with these plans until last night, when I received a request from the author."

Mr Foster explained the request came due to "increased threats" to her safety. He also said he had received several threatening phone calls himself.

Sikh community leaders across the UK welcomed the decision. However, several groups have criticised the decision as censorship through mob rule.

You can visit the theatre's Web Site for further details on the cancelled production.

see arts.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_3092.php/Curtain_Falls_on_Sikh_Play_Bezhti_

[jaz]

Sorry folk this subject has become very dear to me and feel that you need to know whats going on- see my comment in yellow

More than a thousand leading figures from the stage and screen have signed a petition condemning the violence that led to the axeing of a controversial Sikh play at The Birmingham Rep.

Luminaries including Sheila Hanthingy and Prunella Scales have rallied behind playwright Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti who has been forced into hiding by death threats since the play was scrapped on Monday.

jaz comment>>>
How many of these thousand leading figures practice any sort of religion ? not single one I bet yet



The petition was organised by The Rep which was forced to scrap Behzti because of violent protests on Saturday night by members of the Sikh community.

The play depicts rape and murder in a Sikh temple.

jaz comment>>>
Gurpreets boyfriend is not sikh or asian so he would encourage her as he stands to gain finacially -she the flipping coconut

Actors, writers and directors put their names to a statement deploring the threats made against the author and the violence used in protests against the play.

Other signatories include Tariq Ali, Terry Jones, poet laureate Andrew Motion and Willy Russell.

jaz comment>>>
Tariq Ali is muslim so he would as any person not a muslim is a kafir !


The petition may be displayed at the theatre in the coming weeks as a footnote to the events of the past week.

The statement says: "It is a legitimate function of art to provoke debate and sometimes to express controversial ideas.

jaz comment>>>
Hah - express ideas at the expense of causing religious and communal violence what price to pay for your ideas



"To verbally and physically threaten a writer, audience members, performers and theatre staff is unacceptable. To attempt to censor a play because some incidents in it would thereby be rendered less offensive to some people if they were set elsewhere is unacceptable."

jaz comment>>>
Yeh - right

yet they have the guts to provoke religious peace loving folk into demonstrating against what is an insult to what they hold most dear & holy in life and that is acceptable to them ?

just becuase have in the past got away with making fun and blasphemous films etc againts Christanity they think they can do that with any other religion



A spokeswoman for The Rep said: "It was wonderful to know that more than 1,000 leading figures support us in what has been a difficult period."

jaz comment>>>
it would be difficult as you have chosen to do a blasphemous play against Sikhs

- your 1,000 leading figures are high toffee nosed society that have got rich on the blood and toil of all the God loving & fearing folk


Earlier in the week the Birmingham Stage Company announced its willingness to stage the controversial play, but after a plea by the author it has decided not to push ahead with the new production.
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jaz comment>>>

Looks like Gurpreet finally got some akaal and did the right thing or probably she was losing her families support ?

Ps. these are my words of FREE Speech in which I have not insulted anyone but made comments on the above REP statements

[jaz]

Please read what this 15 year Sikh writes in the

comment.independent.co.uk/letters/story.jsp?story=595617


Dramatist had no right to insult Sikhs

Sir: As a British-born Sikh, I have always been proud of the nurturing respectful environment the Gurdwaras provide. To me the Gurdwara is like a community centre which provides a service for all age groups. The elders meet for prayers, all family ceremonies are celebrated there and I am involved with youth activities at my local temple. The Gurdwara is also a place of refuge for anyone seeking help.

I have not seen the play Behzti but have read the scene published by you on 21 December, and am outraged.

The scene seems to imply that our Sikh culture condones men dominating women. Ours is a modern religion that was one of the first to give equal rights to women, one of which was that they were able to become priests. At the opening of the scene the central character is beaten for coming to the Gurdwara at her time of the month. Our religion and culture clearly states that there is no impurity in a woman's natural monthly cycle. The way our civilisation is depicted is distasteful and offensive. I am astounded Mrs Bhatti could do this to her own community.

I do not how the peaceful protests outside the theatre escalated the way they did, but appreciate that when people feel so passionately about what they are protesting for, the situation can be looked upon with more empathy.

I understand why some people defend Gurpreet Bhatti and her right to express herself, but Mrs Bhatti is showing a complete lack of respect for Sikh women and her Sikh heritage by placing this story in a Sikh temple. I pray that she understands what hurt she has caused and apologises to the community.

AMARPREET KAUR
(aged 15)
Maidenhead, Berkshire

[Kamlee]

Jaz keep it coming!
The whole world needs to know what's happening here!
I deplore the act of violence that happened @ the REP in Birmingham, but can understand that these things do happen in socitey around the world.
If I was still at Uni, I would have with out a doubt, being one of the people getting mob handed (not that I'm implying other students would do this), but the writer of the play being a Sikh herself, would have know this would have happened!!!
She may deney it untill she's blue in the face, but I repeat [glow=red,2,300]SHE KNEW THERE WOULD BE A UPROAR FROM THE SIKH COMMUNITY![/glow]
She getting free publicity out of this, and maybe, just maybe the people in the Sikh comminiuty, will know how the Muslims felt, when Salman Rushide wrote the Sanatic Verses
It' s like saying Hitler was right to kill over six million Jewish men , women & children for the simple fact that he was anti Jew, dispite being a Jew himself!
Bottom line is she knew what was going to happen & is no doubt loving hte 15 minutes of fame, & publicity for what ever she decides to write next.
Kamlee )(

[jaz]

seen in the Reuters web site
Hi Folks it me again - I shall keep updating this section with this particular news as I feel very strongly about it and that no one but no one evers repeats whats gupreet did
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Rushdie angry after Sikh play scrapped
Sun Dec 26, 2004 11:59 AM GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Author Salman Rushdie, who went into hiding for years after Iran's leader ordered him killed, has assailed the government for allowing angry Sikh groups to force the cancellation of a Sikh play last week.
A theatre in Birmingham cancelled the play "Behzti" (Dishonour) after angry Sikh demonstrators turned violent on December 18. They were protesting against the play, which depicts sex abuse in a Sikh temple.

The play's author, Gupreet Kaur Bhatti, herself a Sikh, has gone into hiding after receiving death threats.

Many have drawn a parallel with Indian-born novelist Rushdie, 57, who was declared a blasphemer and ordered killed for his novel "The Satanic Verses" by Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989.

"It is pretty terrible to hear government ministers expressing approval of the ban and failing to condemn the violence, when they should be supporting freedom of expression," Rushdie told The Sunday Telegraph newspaper.

"If being upset is the only requirement to banning something, there will be nothing on in the theatres."

Britain is home to hundreds of thousands of practitioners of the Sikh faith from the Indian subcontinent.

Bhatti's play has been described as a black comedy depicting murder and rape within the Sikh community.

After it was cancelled, she said: "Perhaps those who are affronted by the menace of dialogue and discussion need to be offended."

© Reuters 2004. All Rights Reserved.

www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=644254

Jaz comments>>> people just read what Reuters said that bhatti said afterwwards - "Perhaps those who are affronted by the menace of dialogue and discussion need to be offended."

Just who does she think she - if she has any issues with particular people then take up with them not make a play just to offend the Whole of the Sikh Community - I bet her actions are causing so much pain to her parents/family who must be dying with shame

Her own life is worthless yet she chose to drag all her relatives in as well by way of name association she should have taken on that goras name ...

[jaz]

Just been finding out more about the REP

Funding

The REP receives core public funding from the Regional Arts Board for the West Midlands: West Midlands Arts (now a part of The Arts Council of England), and Birmingham City Council. These two organisations award The REP money each year for an annual programme of work including productions in the Main House and The Door, and education and community touring work.


SO - use our f***** money and then slap us in the face - the time has come for the public to start taking interest in what and where these so called public bodies spend your hard earned cash !

ok ok folks so I am a "bit" bitter about the whole incident - plz forgive me

[jaz]

Comment Theatre industry


'All those who have called her naive... are very much mistaken'
26th December, 2004

Jatinder Verma
Artistic Director, Tara Arts

Tara Arts unequivocally condemns the circumstances which forced Birmingham Rep to close its production of 'Behzti' by Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti.

Violence has no legitimate place in protest, and the closure signalled an ominous day for the future of theatre when bricks and fists were able to silence the stage. Tara is determined to work against any circumstance which results in this kind of suppression of a public voice from any part of the community. A victory for violence over words is a disaster for thought and ideas: there can only be losers when violence prevails.

The company further deplores the threats made against the writer, which have forced her, under police advice, into hiding. We urge a public condemnation of such threats and will do all we can to ensure Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti can once again reclaim her public space.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Neil Biswas
Writer

The last few days have been shocking. The reaction that Gurpreet's play has provoked makes me wonder what direction the separate Asian communities in this country are really going in. It also makes me examine how terms like "faith" and "offence" can be hijacked by any angry mob calling itself representative of millions of other believers and peace loving devotees.

The mainstream media reaction to this is also very suspect, and I fear that this episode has helped them create a very misleading image of the Sikh community in the mind of the nation. (And I can't help but think the media been waiting for an opportunity like this.) What is this all really about? In essence - it's about "words". "Words" that Gurpreet has written. "Words" that she has thought long and hard about, before she has committed them to the page. For she is without doubt, a very serious and talented writer who has chosen this moment in her life to examine a Religion/Faith that she was born into.

Believe me, this isn't a decision she has taken lightly, and for all those who have called her "naive" and "sensationalist" in the past few days (Including a prominent Asian writer seemingly camped out on Radio 5), let me tell you that you are very mistaken. Behzti is a very funny, very dark play that, in my opinion, uses the tools of absurdity and comedy to raise hard and sometimes painful questions.

Questions about faith and hypocrisy, about love and sexuality, about power and status, about pain and bereavement, and ultimately about God. Questions that affect all the Asian communities settled in this country. It tells us to look at ourselves and then to look again below the surface we are happy to accept. And this is brave writing.

Some may think that the artistic decisions Gurpreet takes in the play are misconceived or that she is just plain wrong about the whole thing - that there is no corruption in Gurdwaras, that her portrayal of sexual manipulation is completely imaginary - but I'm sure that Gurpreet herself would welcome this debate rather than have it curtailed by an angry mob. The violent reaction against this play is itself absurd. The fact this play has been forced to shut down is a sad reflection on how far we have gone in this country as a free thinking unprejudiced Asian Community, and how far we still have to go.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Sody Singh Kahlon
Writer/Comedian

Who says Sikhs don't go to the theatre! I only wish we had adopted a more peaceful presence. When I first heard of the outcry I was performing in California, "What's your view on the protest in Birmingham over the play?" asked the interviewer. My heart missed a beat! "But my Birmingham performance was in October", I retorted, "I know Asians are always late but why would they disapprove of my play two months later?" The interviewer then revealed it was a protest over Behzti. Although it was a huge sigh of relief for me, it was a sad day for theatre and for the Sikh community.

I have not seen the play and can only hope that Indian whispers are more reliable than the Chinese ones. If what I have heard and read is true then I stand by my community.

Bringing "behzti" to religious symbols will undoubtedly have ramifications. Whereas westernised Sikhs may be more tolerant of the stage, religious Sikhs will certainly take grave offence to inflammatory material within a religious context.

Unfortunately violent and uncivil responses to thoughts and voices can never be condoned. Sikhs are a peaceful community but a handful of fired-up young Sikhs who showed their aggression have tarnished our peaceful image. Unfortunately their actions have branded us as oppressors of artistic freedom.

The Sikh community have always attended and supported my work without threats or demands for censorship. Sikhs have fought for freedom, justice and their rights since their origins. It is against their nature to bring injustice but it is definitely in their nature to object when dishonour is brought to their religion.

I truly hope that should such an outcry occur again it is the words that are heard and not the sound of breaking of glass.


seen in www.asiansinmedia.org/news/article.php/theatre/758

[jaz]

Nirjay Mahindru
Playwright

The majority of these demonstrators had not seen or read the play, and thus, we have echoes of the controversy surrounding Salman Rushdie’s Satanic Verses. What is most disconcerting is the fact that there is no insult against Sikhism within the piece, and this has been recognised by some of the leading demonstrators themselves. Their position is that they can accept controversial scenes of murder and rape, what they cannot countenance is the fact that such scenes occur in a Gurdwara.

The illogical nature of this position needs to be highlighted. It is accepted that Gurpreet has not offended Sikhism per se, the scenes are accepted as pieces of artistic creation, it is the determination of location that has caused offence. It should be noted that the scenes that have caused controversy actually occur in an office within the Gurdwara.

What is next? Does this now mean that controversial storylines cannot be located within a Hindu Temple, a Mosque or a Church? Producers will opt for the safe option of declining such a piece, with a letter to the writer saying “Not for of us I’m afraid”. Meanwhile, other British Asian writers will either instinctively or intellectually opt for a position of self censorship as the only way to get on as a creative practitioner.

Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti is one of the most talented writers of my generation. She did not wake up one morning and decide "I’m going to offend a particular religious group”, she has written a dramatic piece of work that, like all good pieces, also passes social commentary for our times. One of the fundamental roots of the creation of Art is provocation. To provoke and be provoked. The current debacle highlights more the state of health of the Asian Community at large rather than the artistic endeavors of one particular writer.

The establishment will say "You see, promoting certain types of British Asian work is a problem, they are just such a hassle, best policy to tick the appropriate funding boxes is to play jolly safe and make sure we don’t offend their great unwashed, let’s do something original and produce a play about an arranged marriages."

Gurpreet has thus joined the hallowed group of “offender” and I’m delighted, as a fellow “offender” to have such high quality calibre companionship in our camp. After all, writers that have a few battle scars are far more interesting than the bland 'yes wallahs' so beloved by these community leaders.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Sim-Shady
Artist

This is a production that has raised many debates, discussions and highlighted many factors about the society we live in...a society with polarised opinions and perspectives, those with very firm convictions and those that are swinging aimlessly in a cloud of confusion ending up dislodged on spikey fences.

Theatre, apart from providing audiences an escape into a playwrites's imagination and an increasingly populist culture offered by Sky, Cable and of course Bolly-bloody-wood, should in my opinion provide a three dimensional forum for extending ones thoughts and perspectives about life, in Behzti's case a very uncomfortable set of issues facing society. This play goes beyond the writers imagination and intentions to characterise explicit scenes of hypocrisy and exposing all that is hidden beneath the surface as Gurpreet puts it. The ambitions set out in Gurpreet's forward for Behzti all seem incidental now as we now enter a seriously 'derranged' debate post production...a debate that might test the arts and entertainment establishment, possibly for many years to come?

If Gurpreet has achieved anything it is an amazing sense of energy and frantic dialogue by the many parties involved here, who are trying to resolve and make sense of what has just happened and about to happen. The chaos of her play has spilled beyond the physical space of a Birmingham theatre and reached the ears, sentiments and opinions of the international community. It has uncovered a host of complexities too long and detailed for me to articulate here, however include the battle of fundamental principles held within the philosophies of the East and West in a western democracy.

Love it or loathe it, what's significant here is that this sensationalised and controversial production has triggered an infinitely complex debate, exposing a crisis of opinion on the role and responsibilities placed upon the subsidised arts sector and may have limited the courage of artistic expression, allowable in an era post 20/12!

seen in www.asiansinmedia.org/news/article.php/theatre/758

[raaaaaaasss]

alrite! calm it jas!!!! we get da bloody point!! no need 2 go ott!!!