Opera by Billy Elliot writer Lee Hall cancelled over gay reference

An opera involving primary school pupils has been cancelled after the writer refused to remove references to a gay character’s sexuality.

The opera, Beached, written by Billy Elliot creator Lee Hall, was due to open later this month in Yorkshire. Bay Primary School in Bridlington has pulled 300 pupils from the project. Mr Hall accused Opera North, which is behind the production, of “censorship”, but the company said it “can appreciate the viewpoint of the school”.

Beached is a libretto which tells the story of a single father trying and failing to have a quiet day at the beach, and aims to teach a message of tolerance and inclusiveness.- BBC News

Gramilano( Editor )

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano’) about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.

His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia’ column for Dancing Times magazine.