David Schembri
Banned in Malta, open for teenagers in Edinburgh
Stitching, the play banned from being staged in Malta last year, is set to be performed at the popular Edinburgh Fringe Festival next month with a '14' rating.
A spokesman for the Fringe told The Sunday Times it was the performers themselves who gave an age rating to the works they staged, but these were just "guidelines".
When it first was staged at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2002, The Guardian reported that some audience members had walked out of Anthony Nielson's play, which focuses on a couple dealing with the loss of a child.
This year, however, theatre company Selladoor will be bringing back the award-winning play to the festival.
Chris Gatt, director of the local production, said he was not surprised at the self-imposed '14' rating.
"It proves what we've said all along. It was an entire fuss for nothing. Obscenity is in the eyes of the beholder, not in the script - and this is why plays like Stitching keep being performed," Mr Gatt said.
He said he could not understand why Scottish audiences should be subjected to a different cultural and moral benchmark than the Maltese. Citing as examples local plays like Chat Room (which was given a '16' rating in Malta, when it is meant to be performed by, and for, 14-year-olds), he said local classification needed a radical overhaul. In several countries, not only had stage censorship long been abolished, but so had classification.
Mr Justice Joseph Zammit McKeon upheld the Board of Classification's decision to ban Unifaun Theatre Company from staging Stitching at St James Cavalier in 2009.
The judge had said it was unacceptable in a "democratic society founded on the rule of law" for any person, no matter what they did, to be allowed to swear in public - even in a theatre as part of a script.
Both the Classification Board and the court ruling were based on the script of the play, even though the producers offered to perform it in court.
The issue of classification and censorship has hit the headlines ever since Nielson's play was banned, amid calls for a change in laws.
Writing in yesterday's The Times, Culture Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco underlined the need to find a way of better protecting the freedom of artistic expression.
"Do our laws reflect 21st century realities? Are they too draconian in nature, giving perhaps too much power to the Classification Board?" he wrote.
37 Comments
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Marianna Galea Xuereb
Jul 20th 2010, 22:48
The trouble with "Stitching" is the fact that it features self mutilation. Personally I feel no need to censor swearing, four letter words or seedier sex in a play so long as they are used in the right context.
Still this is not a play I would recommend to just any fourteen-year-old Maltese person. Yes, mature, mentally healthy and intelligent youths can deal with such a play. But what about those who have psychological problems or are going through huge emotional problems?
MBorg
Jul 20th 2010, 21:11
@ Heywood Jablomi
Now that is your real prombem. You do not hate Malta but the Maltese and want to see the end of us.
I, for one am not just happy but also proud to be Maltese. Are you really Maltese ?
You are right one has no say in which country one is born. I was born in Malta and proud of the way we Maltese live. Sorry if you do not agree. The world will be a dull place if we all think and have the same tastes.
I also belive in God and in His church, sorry if you fell different, and I do not like it when somebody, Maltese or foreign writes somthing against His church.
How can you say that I have no talent ? Do you know me ? Do you really think that you have to do something that goes down in history before you can be proud of yourself ? I thaught I was exchanging views with an adult, it seems I was wrong. Don't you know that you can feel proud even of little things in life ?
MBorg
Jul 20th 2010, 18:38
@ Heywood Joblomi
I think it is the other way round. It is not The Guardian journalist who is biased, but you are. It is you who cannot admit that anything goes at the Fringe, any amount of filth. It is you who cannot admit that Stitching is only a vulgar ,blasphemous play.
" No one is stopping you from going to any of these places or the Fringe to watch it "
As far as I know does not mean " if you do not like it go away. " Maybe you are now mixing English with another language?
However seeing that you hate Malta and the way we Maltese live you might indeed prefer to live in another country.
MBorg
Jul 20th 2010, 13:45
@ Heywood Jablomi
Sorry you got it wrong. I did not copy someone's smarter comment, but yes I did copy a more informed comment. The writer was there I was not. So I copied his piece, straight from the horse's mouth ,shall we say, to prove the one is able to follow all kinds of rubbish at the Fringe.The writer was there so no one can say that i invented what I wrote.
As for Malta being run by crusty old Christian crusaders, I do not know if you are Maltese, but most of us are proud that in today's modern world people in Malta still have high moral values.
You are right Stitching is on in many other places. Be my guest, no one is stopping you from going to any of these places or to the Fringe to watch it. It takes all sorts, maybe what is filth to most of us would seen like a masterpiece to you.
Dr Francis Saliba
Jul 20th 2010, 09:01
Comparing disparangingly our own standard with those of the Edinburgh "Fringe" festival is a demonstration of a vestigial inferiority complex inherited from our colonial days.
MBorg
Jul 19th 2010, 11:09
@ Junita Cassar
How very wrong.Google does make you smarter.
Take the above article at face value plus what most of the contributors to this site wrote and you would think that suddenly Stitching was elevated to new heights,
I It was going to be performed at the Fringe , open to teenagers and banned in Malta ?
Even Chris Gatt was quoted as saying " It proves what we've said all along. It was an entire fuss for nothing." How dare the Judge ban it ?
Next stop- Google it and get smarter.
You learn that anything can be performed at the Fringe, any amount of filth gets the go ahead.
Stitching just happens to be one of the vulgar , obscene plays being put up this year.
Lesson- Google does make you smarter and you realize that what was filth to start off will remain filth even if it is performed at the Fringe.
Paul Smith
Jul 18th 2010, 19:52
Frans Buttigieg
Since you are becoming more and more like a totalitarian state each and every day, just like Iran, Saudi Arabia then perhaps my comments are not welcome, but until people like you manage to outlaw the freedom of the press, i suggest you hold that thought!
MBorg
Jul 18th 2010, 19:07
MBorg (11)
This is what the Donegal Democrat said about the show Sexual Fetishes with Fish which was performed at the Fringe.
" You get a free drink with your ticket and you'll porbably need it. This is the most disgusting show I've ever seen , it's not sexy -our three presenters look as if they've only ever had sex with themselves. The fish part is the tamest and the least revolting.
A few people in the audience said they felt physically ill. Go only if you are not concerned about contracting hepatitis"
This proves that any amount of filth gets the go ahead at this festival Sitiching being one of them.
MBorg
Jul 18th 2010, 17:42
Why did David Schembri justmention the Edinburgh Fringe without telling us what it really is?
The Fringe Festival attracts events from the performing arts. Theatre events can range from the classics through to new works. However, there is no selection commitee to approve the entries so any type of event is possible. The Fringe often showcases works which might not be admitted to a more formal festival. So by telling us that Stitching is going to be performend during the Fringe does not mean that all of a sudden Stitching is a play worth watching.
Why did David Schembri not tell us that when Stitching was performed during the Edinburgh festival, audiences known for theircastiron stomachs walked out on grounds of taste. This in secular Scotland.
It is a well known fact that the unregulated Edinburgh Fringe features unprecedented levels of obscenity. A show during this festival called Sexual Fetishes with Fish asked the audience to pass round a condom filled with frozen human excrement and then lick on another's armpits. How nice. what high level of artistic freedom.Do you think we should have this show in Malta ?
It was at the Fringe, so it must be good.
Juanita Cassar
Jul 18th 2010, 19:18
I suggest you read the article before attacking the person who wrote it.
As far as I can see, the self-regulatory aspect of the festival is mentioned as well as the part that the "audiences known for their cast iron stomachs walked out on grounds of taste" - lifted, word for word, from the Guardian article the writer cites.
Google does not make you any smarter.
Teresa Pace
Jul 18th 2010, 17:25
My last two posts were addressed to Paul Smith
Teresa Pace
Jul 18th 2010, 17:18
So, Non religious people have a right to defend what they believe in. They are ready to fire any name, any definition and any accusation at us. They call us people who are putting the nation in chains, we are narrow minded, we are from medieval times and oh so many other definitions. People who believe are not free to defend what they believe in. We have every right to speak out what we believe in! It is not just you who have a right!
Teresa Pace
Jul 19th 2010, 11:10
@ Haywood Jablomi
My dear friend, it is not just one comment. The moment we open our mouths your kind, as you so kindly put it, snap at us and we are given all the titles in the book. You are the ones who are beating us around and not us. I am totally surprised at the lack of defence on our side, and at the amount of attacks we get from your kind as you so crudely put it.
Teresa Pace
Jul 19th 2010, 13:38
@ Haywood Jablomi
I have absolutely no problem with dealing with it. I hope that you are up to dealing with so many things when you are faced with the absolute Truth
Teresa Pace
Jul 20th 2010, 07:57
Whatever yolu say
Teresa Pace
Jul 20th 2010, 16:40
You got that so wrong my dear. I would rather fire accusations at a person face to face then doing it cowardly at a forum with unknown persons. Lack of faith? That's for God to decide and for no mere human being to decide.
Paul Smith
Jul 18th 2010, 16:57
Teressa Pace does have a point when she says Malta already has a problem as it is.
That problem is called extreme religious fundamentalism practiced by the few put on the many.
Carl is so right, the festival attracts millions because of it's mistakes
Teresa Pace
Jul 18th 2010, 17:11
@ Paul Smith
Here we go again!
Frans Buttigieg
Jul 18th 2010, 17:26
Mr Paul Smith, since when defending values has become religious fundamentalism? You can keep your liberalism to yourself because it's not needed nor wanted here.
Karl Consiglio
Jul 18th 2010, 15:32
W. Spencer,
That is why the Edinburgh festival attracts thousands of people each year, because of their mistakes.
Teresa Pace
Jul 18th 2010, 15:57
Ha! So what about attracting thousands of people. Malta already has a problem because of lack of values and I am not just talking about lack of religiosity. More rubbish? You are more than welcome to go and enjoy rubbish there if so appealing to you. Malta already has a problem as it is
MBorg
Jul 18th 2010, 12:07
Who says that we should follow Scotland's example ? Hundreds of abortions are carried out in the UK every day , does this make it right ? Should we also follow their way of life ?
It is true that theatre censorship was removed in Uk, however plays are now placed in the same category of books and a company or theatre can be prosecuted if a play is judged to be obscene, slanderous,blasphemous, or liable to incite racial hatred or public disorder
The police have the power to stop a performance if it receives a complaint from the public. Not only that , but the law states that the member of the public need not actually see the performance to make such a complaint.
It is also possible for an individual citizen to take out a private procecution against a theatre or company if he feels that he was offended by the play.
We all know that England is a secular country but that does not mean that we have to follow.
Stitching is obscene and blasphemous and the judge did the right thing when he banned it.
Lino Ferris
Jul 18th 2010, 11:12
In the name of culture and entertainment there is absolutely no need to justify foul language in any production . One can always tone down the phrases but yet keeping the desired impact which an author and the director would have wished to transmit. It is annoying and disgusting watching a film using bad language moreover watching a play. We need to distinguish between a 'live' production which no doubt has a significant direct affect on the audience. With the same tone, is it then justifed to make love on the stage! Three cheers to the Judge for his well explained ruling.
Justin Borg-Barthet
Jul 18th 2010, 11:39
'One can always tone down the phrases but yet keeping the desired impact which an author and the director would have wished to transmit.'
Really? Does the F word have the same effect as sending someone to Coventry?
The notion that adults cannot make their own minds up, and that this is so widely accepted, is incredible.
If there is any truth to the suggestion that so much theatre is traumatic, we should be seriously concerned that the Classification Board has martyred its sanity by enduring this filth for outs sakes. This is probably as good a reason as any to relieve them of their duties.
Teresa Pace
Jul 18th 2010, 13:47
Well said
Bernard Parascandalo
Jul 18th 2010, 15:24
Lino, if you view theatrical productions that way, it is your business. I am sure that not everyone agrees with that.
The greatest theatrical works of all time all use foul language to instil awe in their audiences (think of Macbeth, for instance).
It is a consequence of the local judiciary's narrow mindedness that they fail to see this. They want to be holier than the pope and yet only manage to make fools of themselves, of our culture and of Malta as a whole. Shame on Joseph Zammit McKeon, shame on government and shame on Malta.
Karl Consiglio
Jul 18th 2010, 10:48
T.Camilleri,
Yes we do.
MBorg
Jul 18th 2010, 14:50
Speak for yourself please.
British youths have gone out of control, even the British government does not know what to do to better the situation.
And you wish the same fate on Malta ? No thank you !
Karl Consiglio
Jul 18th 2010, 10:39
How embarrassing for Malta. What a shame, truly a time for those who judge to be judged.
T Camilleri
Jul 18th 2010, 10:09
Anyone who reads British newspapers know what culture is being instilled in British youths. Do we want that culture?
W Spencer
Jul 18th 2010, 10:52
Exactly, the UK is completely devoid of morals, decency, and an "anything goes " attitude makes it a lawless society.
Do not follow in the UK's footsteps, learn from their mistakes.
Ramon Casha
Jul 18th 2010, 11:14
Not exactly. Newspapers everywhere tend to concentrate on the worst news.
Sure, there's a lot to worry about among youths in the UK. One example is the gang attacks that led to a number of deaths. But I'll ask you this: Do you think the typical gang member is a regular theatre goer?
Justin Borg-Barthet
Jul 18th 2010, 11:26
@ T Camilleri: Do you seriously think that any problems in youth culture in Britain stem from the theatre? This is a bizarre logical leap which suggests that you have (i) never been to a theatre in Britain and seen a British audience; and (ii) don't tend to show much interest in theatre generally.
It's probably got lots more to do with newspapers. Perhaps you should stop reading the Daily Mail and choose something decent instead. Better still, perhaps your government should tell you what you're allowed to read.
Teresa Pace
Jul 18th 2010, 13:49
@ T Camilleri
No we don't
D.Galea
Jul 18th 2010, 15:16
YES!!
T Camilleri
Jul 18th 2010, 16:06
Justin Borg-Barthet How ironic Borg Barthet that you are against censorship and yet you want the government to censor me and tell me what newspapers I should read. Freudian slip Borg Barthet? As for reading I read much more than you think Borg Barthet.
Justin Borg-Barthet
Jul 18th 2010, 16:25
No, T Camilleri - not a Freudian slip (sic), but irony.