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| The production of Here You Come Again, a musical, has experienced homophobic reactions from audience members (Picture: ATG) |
A theatrical show centered around Dolly Parton was halted mid-performance in Manchester due to homophobic actions, as stated by one of the show's actors.
Stevie Webb, a cast member in Here You Come Again, reported that anti-gay incidents during the performances had escalated to a point where the cast had to temporarily exit the stage.
Webb, who shared the account on TikTok with his 102.7k followers, mentioned that the entire cast was compelled to ‘leave the stage, because a woman was so disgusted there was a gay character’ last Wednesday.
He posted on TikTok that the occurrence on Wednesday was proceeded by a similar situation involving a man who was ejected from the audience for making homophobic remarks.
Webb indicated that the production encountered similar issues during its run in London.
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Webb commented that these incidents have significantly highlighted the reality of homophobia for him, noting that the man who was removed from the audience used a slur and exclaimed: ‘I just want to see Dolly Parton.’
Webb stated: ‘We’re in such a bubble in this industry. But travelling the country and seeing how many people literally cannot bear to see a gay person depicted on stage – it’s wild.’
ATG Entertainment, which manages the Manchester Opera House, informed the BBC that they maintain a ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards hate speech and disruptive audience behavior.
In a statement to Metro, The Palace Theatre & Opera House stated: "’Our theatre team is committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for everyone—both on and off the stage.
‘Whilst these incidents are rare, we have a zero-tolerance policy to bullying, harassment, or any form of abusive behaviour towards our cast, crew, or staff. Anyone engaging in such conduct will be removed from the venue immediately. Thank you to all our theatre goers who continue to act with respect and kindness towards others.’"
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| Webb portrays a gay, devoted Dolly Parton fan in the show (Picture: Here You Come Again) |
The musical comedy, directed by Gabriel Barre, is described as a cheerful and lively exploration of Parton’s celebrated music.
Promotional material for Here You Come Again describes the show as being about ‘a diehard fan whose fantasy version of international icon Dolly Parton gets him through trying times.’
The 79-year-old country singer has been a longtime supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and voiced her support for same-sex marriage prior to its legalization in the United States.
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| Dolly Parton has consistently supported LGBTQ+ rights (Picture: AFF-USA/REX/Shutterstock) |
She also previously hosted Gay Days at Dollywood, her theme park located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
In 2016, amidst debates concerning gender-designated restrooms, Parton told CNN: ‘I think everybody should be treated with respect. I don’t judge people and I try not to get too caught up in the controversy of things.
‘I hope that everybody gets a chance to be who and what they are. I just know, if I have to pee, I’m gon’ pee, wherever it’s got to be.’
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