Hayman: Council is trying to cripple my pro-independence show Exclusive By iain s bruce Sunday 3 August 2014 Renowned screen and stage actor David Hayman has accused a Scottish council of political censorship in a row over publicity for his latest touring production. David Hayman has won backing from others in the arts community in his dispute with the councilPhotograph: Colin Mearns David Hayman has won backing from others in the arts community in his dispute with the councilPhotograph: Colin Mearns The actor claims Argyll and Bute Council is refusing to publicise a series of dates for his play The Pitiless Storm through channels it controls, and attempts to contact council staff and elected officials over the issue have met a wall of silence. Along with the show producers, Hayman believes the information blackout is politically motivated due to its discussion of the referendum and pro-independence conclusion. Its a staggering situation and quite unique in my experience, but we seem to be suffering political interference and censorship at the highest level, Hayman said. Its a denial of my right to free speech, my right to artistic expression and my right to earn a living. The controversy began in April, after the tours producers contacted managers of the council-owned venues in Dunoon, Oban and Helensburgh to request the show be included in the entertainment listings regularly published on Argyll and Butes website. Although inclusion in the event diary is normally routine, none of the plays three Argyll and Bute shows have made it on to the councils published list. Jim Lister of production company Fair Pley told the Sunday Herald the team behind The Pitiless Storm initially assumed the failure to promote the show was a simple mistake, but subsequent bids to rectify the problem have been ignored: Given that new events are being added to the councils online listings every week, this is clearly neither an administrative nor a technical issue, he said. We have repeatedly been assured by venue managers that the performance details should be added to the official events diary like any other, but whenever the issue is passed to the council it stops dead. Dozens of calls and emails have been met with a wall of silence, and it seems clear that somewhere up the line, senior officials are deliberately blocking any publicity on political grounds. The play, which opened at the Edinburgh Fringe this weekend, will travel across Scotland throughout September. Organisers say despite the shows pro-independence stance audiences will be invited to join in unbiased discussion of independence, and no other council has refused to promote the production. Hayman said: For Argyll and Bute Council to accept our booking, then deny access to the usual publicity channels, is nothing less than censorship. That is outrageous in the 21st century. Hayman has garnered support from the arts community, with key commentators voicing concerns that the situation amounts to an extraordinary politicisation of the arts agenda in the run-up to September 18. Tommy Sheppard, owner of the Stand Comedy Clubs and director of the Assembly Rooms Fringe said: This is an extremely unusual situation. If these suspicions are correct, and if the council have not officially articulated concerns over the script, then it would seem that someone within the organisation is exercising power in line with their personal political opinions, which is both inappropriate and improper. The play is not a polemic but a considered discussion of the issues many Scots are wrestling with today, and it would set a ridiculous precedent to suggest that artistic output shouldnt reference the great debates of our time. A spokesman for Argyll and Bute Council said: The council does not respond to unsubstantiated accusations made by third parties. If the producers of the play have concerns they should contact the councils executive director of customer services. heraldscotland/politics/referendum-news/hayman-labour-council-is-trying-to-cripple-my-pro-independence-show.24937349
Posted on: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 08:27:32 +0000
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