Jerry Springer The Opera

Monday.

Here we go again. Complaints and demonstrations in the UK about "arts" productions - this time "Jerry Springer the Opera on BBC TV.

The complaints number anywhere between 5,500 and 50,000 depending on which link you follow. The Guardian reports 50,000 and Scotland on Sunday reports 5,500. The Independent reports that more than half of the 300 phone calls received by the BBC after Saturday night's screening were in support of the musical.

A spkesman for Christian Voice was reported as saying, "The blasphemy of Jerry Springer the Opera lies in denigrating almighty God and the only saviour, the lord Jesus Christ. I fear for the United Kingdom when we allow such a blasphemous mockery to be screened on national television.

"The BBC have no respect for God, and they hold the views of ordinary people in contempt. We demand respect for the Christian faith and we are not prepared to allow these attacks on the Christian faith to go on any longer."

The BBC has some of its executives under guard in London after receiving threats for airing, "Jerry Springer - The Opera," Sky News reported on Sunday.

At least on this occasion illegal acts did not cause the cancellation of a lawful performance.

If you don't like what a play or opera is about - don't go to it. If you object to a book - don't read it and if you object to a TV programme - switch it off.

Last month it was Birmingham Rep that was under fire for staging Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti's play 'Behzti'. A Sikh demonstration that turned violent and death threats made against the playwright ended the play's run prematurely.

All this in a country that champions freedom of speech and freedom of artistic and theatrical expression. It seems to me that they are entering a period when violent protest and threats against individuals is seen as a valid form of censorship.

At least the management at the BBC had the balls to go ahead and screen the "Opera".

Last month, Arts minister and Birmingham Yardley MP Estelle Morris said: "I fully support the Birmingham Rep in how they have handled this very sensitive situation.

"It is a cornerstone of our democracy that freedom of speech and artistic expression "within the law" should be defended at all times.

"But the Rep also has responsibilities for the safety of their audiences and the security of the their staff.

"So, although today is a very sad day for freedom of speech, I think the Rep has done the right thing, although, like them, I very much regret that they had to do it."

I assume from that that she thought the violence was unlawful. The theatre said it had refused to censor the work and was abandoning it purely on health and safety grounds. - so police the streets - and defend playwrights, theatre staff and audiences from mob censorship.