Controversial play shelved

A theatre boss has abandoned his plans to stage a controversial play that another venue pulled because of violent protests, it emerged yesterday.

Neal Foster, the actor-manager of the Birmingham Stage Company, offered to put on Bezhti after the Birmingham Repertory Theatre cancelled further shows on Monday.

Sikh protesters demonstrating against the play’s depiction of rape and murder in a fictional temple were involved in disturbances at the venue on Saturday.