FREE PANEL: ‘Illegal’ Edinburgh Shows & Index on Censorship Discuss Global Threat to Arts

++++ MEETING POSTPONED ++++

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED AND WILL NOW TAKE PLACE NEXT WEEK. FURTHER DETAILS WILL FOLLOW.

On Monday (08 August), 11.20am-12.20pm a free panel at Underbelly’s Friesian Theatre, McEwan Hall, will discuss the issue of producing theatre and art under the rising threat of censorship, with three international grassroot theatre companies to share their personal experiences.

Index on Censorship are partnering for the event, with moderator Nik Williams to give a global perspective on arts censorship.

Panellists include Max Percy and Natalie Chan with their Untapped Award winning show This is Not a Show About Hong Kong, a visually stunning piece of dance theatre which explores the blanket censorship trigged by the imposition of the Chinese government’s National Security Bill in Hong Kong. If the show were to be performed in Hong Kong performances could be summarily banned, and Max & Natalie could face a minimum five years in prison.

Davinia Hamilton and Sam Edmunds of Blanket Ban (also an Untapped Award winner)will be on the panel to discuss their multimedia, docu-theatre show which explores the blanket ban on abortion in Malta and features video testimony of Maltese women who have had abortions.

Of course hauntingly timely in the wake of overturning of Roe V Wade in USA which has caused a seismic shift in the conversation surrounding abortion rights worldwide. Again, if this play were to be performed in Malta, the creative team could face prosecution.

Finally Rhum + Clay’s Julian Spooner and Syrian composer Khaled Kurbeh of Project Dictator will contribute to the panel.

Their shows follows two clowns performing a show amid political instability; initially enjoying apparent freedom of expression against the backdrop of liberal democracy, before the production is slowly engulfed by the creeping shadow of authoritarianism. The play was inspired by conversations with artists living under autocratic regimes from Brazil to Venezuela and Afghanistan to Azerbaijan.

Index on Censorship is an organization campaigning for freedom of expression, which produces a quarterly magazine of the same name from London.