A venue has banned the performance of a stage version of Are You Being Served? due to sexist content. The Hull Playgoers’ Society had intended to produce a show of the BBC classic at the Truck Theatre. However, theatre chiefs rejected the script, saying it needed to be more politically correct.
The popular sitcom Are You Being Served aired from 1972 until 1985, drawing audiences of up to 22.5 million. It is famous the character Miss Brahms, played by Wendy Richards, who regularly attracted slobbering male attention, as well as it’s portrayal of homosexuality through the camp stylings of Mr Humphries. But the show is most famous, in fact it is almost shorthand for, innuendo – going heavy on the double entendres. Please see Mrs Slocombe’s pussy for more information.
The Hull Playgoers’ Society’s artistic director Vince Matfin has described the venue’s feedback on the script as censorship. Vince has previously updated a production of Up Pompeii to suit modern tastes by replacing scantily clad women with “half-naked lads instead… The Four Male Strippers also went down well with the ladies of Hull”.
Now, reader, get your head out of your hands; we all know a simple gender flip solves all kinds of art that might be described as ‘problematic.’ Vince Matfin continued: “I have a pile of really good scripts and already censor my own choices.
“Now I have someone censoring what’s left.”
Of course you might argue that you simply can’t top the original TV production and leave it at reruns. The Truck Theatre says they invited the producers to meet with them to discuss the play choice and “how this aligns against our artistic policy and values”.
