Stitching producers will not defy ban

The producers of Stitching have decided not to defy the classification board's ban after all and will instead await the court's decision before staging the play.

"We are confident that we will eventually win the case and be allowed to stage it legally, even if it has to reach the European Courts," Unifaun Theatre producer Adrian Buckle told The Times.

When the play's ban first made headlines he had promised to put on the play anyway, but after some consideration and legal advice, Mr Buckle and his team decided to fight the ban in court.

Unifaun believes that since the play did not deserve to be banned it should not have to be staged at the risk of facing arrest or a fine.

Another reason for this change in tack is that they have been left without a stage. The play was originally planned for the state-owned St James Cavalier theatre, whose management is constrained to abide by the decision of the Board of Stage and Film Classifiers. Unifaun approached a number of alternative venues but the owners feared the consequences.

However, the producers have a lot of support with thousands of people joining an online group calling for the ban to be lifted.

Meanwhile, the producers have been inviting small groups of people to watch rehearsals of the play in order to gauge their reactions. So far, around 100 people have attended rehearsals at venues ranging from private living rooms to hotel conference rooms.

"I thank everyone for their support and I am confident that common sense will prevail in the end," Mr Buckle said.

The board of classifiers has described the play as an insult to human dignity from beginning to end and as being blasphemous and offensive to Auchwitz victims.

Meanwhile, Unifaun Theatre is about to stage another production called The Devil's Advocate, their first since the Stitching saga. The play deals with various themes including war, politics and power.

Mr Buckle said it explains how American policies help to build up monsters like Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden, and then the US invades their countries and kills innocent people just to dispose of them.

It will be directed by Michael Fenech and the cast will include local stalwarts Manuel Cauchi and Paul Portelli. It will be shown this weekend and the following.

cperegin@timesofmalta.com