Opera cancelled after single complaint over cultural insensitivity

The Minack claimed it had ‘concerns from the start’ about the production - David Davies/ PA Archive

The Minack Theatre at Porthcurno pulled a planned production of Léo Delibes’s Lakmé after a US-based Hindu campaigner described the opera as “shallow exoticism based on prejudice”.

Rajan Zed, the president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, said it was “highly irresponsible” for the theatre to host Surrey Opera’s production given the perceived cultural sensitivities around the French opera.

“This deeply problematic opera was just a blatant belittling of a rich civilisation and exhibited 19th-century orientalist attitudes,” Mr Zed said, arguing that the theatre “should not be in the business of callously promoting appropriation of traditions, elements and concepts of ‘others’”.

Mr Zed said it was ‘highly irresponsible’ for The Minack to host Surrey Opera’s production

The Minack, which is four miles from Land’s End, claimed it had “concerns from the start” about the three-act opera, which follows the story of Lakmé, the daughter of a Hindu priest, embarking on a forbidden love affair with Gérald, a British officer.

A spokesman for the theatre said: “The opera contains two well-known arias, the Bell Song and the Flower Duet, which are frequently performed in classical concerts. However, it was composed in 1883 and reflects colonial and social attitudes prevalent in Europe at that time.

“Because of this we had concerns from the start about their choice and were in discussion with Surrey Opera about how they would address these issues in their production before Mr Zed contacted us. They have subsequently withdrawn the opera and Mr Zed has been informed of this.

“The Minack is an inclusive venue, welcoming people of all cultures and faiths. We do not condone racial or religious intolerance or misrepresentation in any form. We understand and accept Mr Zed’s valid concerns and are happy that we have been able to resolve this matter.”

In the lead-up to the production, which was slated to run from Sept 7-11, The Minack Theatre had included trigger warnings on its website, saying that the opera contained “cultural bias” and “stereotyping or negative depictions of people/cultures”.

Mr Zed welcomed the decision to withdraw the performance, and reiterated that the opera “seriously trivialises Hindu religious and other traditions”.

The serial campaigner said he had received an email from Rebecca Thomas, the theatre’s director, confirming she had “taken on board” the points and withdrawn the opera.

“We do recognise that there are certain outdated references and cultural sensitivities within many of the older theatre and opera productions,” she is said to have written, adding: “It would never be our intention to promote or misrepresent traditions and cultures.”

The opera follows the story of Lakmé, the daughter of a Hindu priest, embarking on a forbidden love affair with Gérald, a British officer

Mr Zed also called for Surrey Opera, a semi-professional company based in Croydon, to apologise and suggested their president and artistic director undergo “cultural sensitivity training”.

He added: “Surrey Opera should have shown some maturity before selecting an opera like Lakmé (Lakshmi), displaying Western caricaturing of Eastern heritage and abetting ethnic stereotyping.”

Mr Zed accused the company of a list of perceived offences including “colonial terminology, needless appropriation of cultural motifs, patronising flawed mishmash of centuries-old orientalist stereotypes” and “pseudo and unabashed orientalism”.

The opera underwent a resurgence in popularity after the Flower Duet appeared in a 1989 British Airways advert.

The opera’s duet for soprano and mezzo-soprano featured in True Romance, the 1993 film, written by Quentin Tarantino, and Meet the Parents.

Surrey Opera will instead perform Don Pasquale by Gaetano Donizetti, initially at St Mary Magdalene in Croydon before taking to the open-air stage at The Minack.

Surrey Opera has been contacted for comment.

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