The chief executive of Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre has resigned following a censorship row prompted by the cancellation of a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The modern adaption of Shakespeare’s play was halted in a dispute over its references to the Israel-Gaza war and transgender rights, just before it was due to start a five-week run in September.
An independent review criticised the theatre’s leadership but concluded “management’s actions did not constitute censorship”.
Stephen Freeman, who had been chief executive since 2018, said he was standing down “for personal reasons linked to the impact of the last few months”, adding he was “comforted that the report has concluded that censorship was not at play”.
He added: “I wish to make it clear that this is my decision, and mine alone.
“More needs to be done to support relationships between artists and institutions. This is where our collective power exists to make a real difference in the world, and I want to focus my attention on this area in the future.”
The play’s director Stef O’Driscoll had said at the time there was “a growing trend of censorship and fear-driven decision-making in the arts”.
Previews cancelled
The Manchester Evening News first reported how the row broke out following an internal preview when it emerged the production included a song which referred to transgender rights and the phrase “free Palestine”.
Further previews were cancelled and postponed, with theatre management citing injury to a cast member and technical difficulties, before the entire run was cancelled some days later, the paper reported.
Director Stef O’Driscoll later told theatre publication The Stage that executive staff stated the production could not go on unless the phrases “trans rights” and “Free Palestine” were removed.
She said there was “a lack of proper and rigorous artistic support”, adding: “As artists, we are losing the very spaces that are meant to challenge, provoke and speak to the issues of our time.”
Theatre apology
The theatre then commissioned an independent review by cultural organisation People Make It Work, which concluded there was a “failure to maintain robust support”.
It said: “The theatre has a history of producing bold, brave and ambitious work but its handling of A Midsummer Night’s Dream revealed significant systemic organisational and leadership failures rather than the deliberate suppression of political content.”
“A lack of senior artistic leadership and properly-documented producing processes created conditions where legitimate concerns about artistic developments in the production became entangled with allegations of censorship.”
Responding, the theatre’s board said it “takes full responsibility for these failings” and “apologises to all those involved in the production, whose work was not able to be seen, as well as to staff and audiences for these shortcomings”.
The board’s statement also said it wanted to thank Mr Freeman “for his commitment and passion for the Royal Exchange Theatre, its programme and its people”.
It added: “His hard work to steer the organisation, in particular through the multiple Covid closures, ensured the business continued to serve our community and to thrive.”
Selina Cartmell will become joint chief executive while another person is set to be recruited to share the role.