Tasmania bans breasts
Posted October 15th, 2009 by debritz
Busting Out!, the show about women's breasts, has apparently been banned in Tasmania. A press relase from the producers says:
The management of Hobart’s Theatre Royal today banned the critically acclaimed theatre show, Busting Out! from performing at Hobart’s Theatre Royal. Producer, Simon Bryce said: “Here we have a show that has been seen by over 200,000 people around the country in more than 40 theatres, that has been applauded by critics and audiences both here and overseas, and has raised more than $50,000 for breast cancer research and is now banned from showing in Hobart. Given the number of Tasmanians who have asked us to bring the show to Tasmania, this decision is dumbfounding.”
The director of Brisbane’s Twelfth Night Theatre, Gail Wiltshire, is quoted as saying: “Busting Out! was the most successful new Australian work to play in Brisbane this century. Our audiences loved this show. As a survivor of breast cancer, it is appalling that the Hobart Theatre Royal has banned a show that has so much to positively say about women’s issues. Has anyone from the theatre actually bothered to see the show?” Directed by Terence O’Connell and performed by Emma Powell and Bev Killick, the show is currently playing in New Zealand before a return Australian season and a European and UK tour.
Update: According to this comment, it may be a matter of the theatre not being able to accommodate the show, rather than actually banning it. I wonder what's showing instead...
Update 2: The Mercury has a story here.
Update 3: Producer stands by his claim.
Hi Paul (and others)
I have read your posts and as the producer of Busting Out! I really feel a need to clarify what the facts are:
Put quite simply, the Theatre Royal told us the dates of June 5-8, 2010 were available to us, but the show would need to be approved first in consideration of the venue's artistic policy before they would agree to accept the hire. This in itself was an unprecedented request since no other venue in Australia has subjected us to an 'Artistic Approval Process'. Leaving aside that no artists were doing the approvlng, we complied and provided further information to Theatre Royal, since to the best of our knowledge none of them had actually bothered to see the show.
In a response to us to finalise the matter and proceed with the show, on Thursday the venue wrote to us and said, and I quote in full:
"We discussed Busting Out! at our management meeting yesterday and the majority of our team were not in favour of proceeding with this hire. I gave everyone a brief description of the show, a rundown on the venues across Australia and NZ where the show has already played and after the meeting sent each member of the team a link to the Busting Out website so that they could view footage and see both press and audience reviews. It was a decision based on whether or not this show aligns with our boards artistic policy and the majority (not all) of the management team believe it is not a good alignment, as such I’m afraid that the Theatre Royal will not be prepared to present this show."
The above was their definitive position on the matter - re-produced here in its entirety. As you can see there was no mention of scheduling issues or any other reason other than a ban on the basis of what the collective management team perceived the show's content to be. Telephone conversations between Theatre Royal staff and my office also support the written statement above.
I stand by our claim 100% that we have been censored.
But censorship is just one part of the story. The other part being that the theatre has simply tried to create a smokescreen by blaming clashing dates, other shows, stretched resources and any other straw they can grab hold of, rather than be upfront and honest - and say that they banned the show on artistic grounds and state their reasons why they chose to do so.
Questions should be raised on why the statements reported as being made by Theatre Royal in the media on this issue are so inconsistent with the communications they have had with my office.
As to the Artistic policy....
I must make it perfectly clear that I am not criticising any other show at the Theatre Royal, but the fact that shows such as Puppetry of the Penis and Bawdy Panto's Boobs in the Wood meet the artistic policy and Busting Out! does not, then serious questions should be asked about the credibility of this so called artistic policy.
Theatre Royal receives significant funds from Tasmanian's through taxation and as such they are funded to provide a facility for all Tasmanians. My belief is whether individuals personally choose to see Busting Out or any other show is a matter and right for individuals. When agencies of government start using public funds to decide what free thinking adults can and cannot see, then I believe accountabilty warrants that these matters be discussed in the public domain.
Sincerely
Simon Bryce - Producer
Busting Out!
Hi Simon, thanks for taking the time to comment.
I don't work for the Theatre Royal, or any theatre in the State. But I fail to see how this is censorship - we all know that nudity is often and regularly displayed on stage at the Royal, so your argument that they are censoring your show based on its content is rather bizarre, to say the least.
You know from communication with them that there are more shows wanting to be performed there than there is space - this to me sounds like sour grapes on your behalf, that they rejected your boob show.
What's wrong with looking at other venues? Your show, you proudly shout in all your advertising is such a hit, so why are you wanting to have it shown at one of the smallest venues?
But what really irks me, is your pathetic grab for media attention, particularly through your sad and offensive headline on your website, which follows through in your press release:
"Busting out Banned in Tasmania"
What a load of crap.
One theatre decides not to allow you to use their space, and suddenly you're banned from the State? I'd love to know what working relationship you now how with the managers of the theatres in Launceston, Burnie and Devonport, where your show was not under any threat!!!
If your show is economically reliant on including a show at the Royal, then I suggest you need to re-evaluate your management and touring structure! Why shows in Burnie and Devonport, when they are only 30 minutes drive apart?
Breast cancer is such a worthy cause to be raising funds for, but seriously, you've not done yourself, the company or the actors any favour by making such outlandishly false claims here. Word travels fast in Tassie, and many people know about your tantrum now - and they don't understand why you're treating them with such contempt.
If the videos on your website are the highlight of your show, I fail to see how it's such a success, regardless!
great beat up... but perhaps check the facts first.
This performance wasn't 'banned' at all - it was purely a 'what fits within the schedule and balance' decision.
Over 300 productions want space at the Theatre Royal next year, but there is space for just 40. Are you suggesting the other 260 productions that also got cut must have been offensive and therefore 'banned' from the State? Get a grip.
Perhaps the producers of Busting Out should be looking for another venue... unless of course they already have a venue ready and just wanted this for the PR value...
You wrote "Busting Out!, the show about women's breasts, has apparently been banned in Tasmania...". If you looked into the issue you'd know that the show is going ahead in Launceston at the Princess Theatre anyway... they are just grumpy their show didn't get picked for the Hobart Theatre Royal season.
The Busting Out producers even have on their website (http://www.busting-out.com/press.html) "Busting Out Banned in Tasmania". I wonder if the Princess Theatre in Launceston will want to go ahead with the shows now, considering the producers are so blatantly misrepresenting the truth?
The management of the Theatre Royal are dumbfounded this is been so blown out of proportion http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2009/10/16/103615_entertainment.html
Personally I know many people who have seen the show in other places and all loved it. I'd love to see it!
So, it seems to me, that the producers of the show are just trying to stir up PR - it's a rather bizarre tactic though, to denigrate a whole State (which wanted the show to come), due to them not fitting into a schedule of one theatre...
I find it odd that they think not having Hobart makes it unviable - the Theatre Royal only holds 700 people, and they wanted three nights. The Princess holds just under 1100, so adding a couple more nights to Launceston would cover that anyway.
Shows were also booked in Burnie and Devonport (cities that are only half hour apart anyway, so that seems like waste of travelling costs for the production anyway!).
The more obvious thing is though, there are other venues around Hobart - and bigger ones. That's why I just think its all just a pathetic attempt at garnishing PR for their show - but in reality the producers have just offended and annoyed people in Tassie. "Busting Out Banned in Tasmania".. um, no... just one theatre didn't have space.
I don't know what else the Royal has booked, as I am pretty sure the 2010 season hasn't been released yet (or at least one that has definite shows/dates).
The Royal has had many shows that have nudity, the most obvious being the annual Uni Revue, which has been going for decades... it is well known for its full frontal male and female nudity... Tickets often sell out within a couple of days of going on sale, so it's not like people shy away from seeing pink bits!
The ban makes very little sense to me. I supported Puppetry of the Penis on a tour of Tassie. The response was positive at the Hobart shows and around the state. How Busting Out could offend when Puppetry didn't, I don't know. I found the Tasmanian audience openminded and ready to have a good night. no doubt those who found the idea of the show offensive chose to do something else that night.
Lets be fair here...They are Tasmanians after all...They're probably working on a Jackson Jive Tribute Show with Sam Newman and Kyle Sandilands to provide thoughtfull and intelligent social comments in the intervals.
But it keeps happening Brett.
It sure does iforsy! And I keep wondering if they too are rolling over in their grave.