Theatres drop ‘vile’ Ann Widdecombe’s one-woman show after gay conversion comments

Theatre company Selladoor, which runs the Landmark Theatre in Ilfracombe, had been due to stage ‘Strictly Ann – an evening with Ann Widdecombe’ next year.

However, chief executive David Hutchinson cancelled the show after the MEP suggested in an interview on Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday that science might “produce an answer” to being gay.

WATCH: Widdecombe slammed for suggesting science will ‘produce an answer’ to being gay

Hutchinson said in a tweet that he “took no time” to cancel her show.

Absolutely disgusted at Ann Widdecombe's comments over the weekend. Took no time in immediately cancelling her planned 'evening with' event at one of our @SelladoorVenues. We will never provide a stage for these vile people.https://t.co/IpcU7y90e6
— David Hutchinson (@DaveHutchinson_) June 3, 2019

“Absolutely disgusted at Ann Widdecombe’s comments over the weekend,” he said. “We will never provide a stage for these vile people.”

Calling her comments “divisive, disrespectful and foolishly ignorant,” he told The Stage: “We don’t seek to prevent discussions where there might be differences in opinion – but in this case, there is no discussion to be had.”

Other theatres have also dropped the MEP’s show, including Electric Theatre in Guildford.

Artistic Director Nathan Rogers told the New European that the decision was taken in relation to the same interview.

“It’s not something that we wanted to be associated with,” he said.

Trustees of the Altrincham Garrick Playhouse are refunding tickets, saying they were cancelling the show “due to recent unforeseeable events”.

Alison Fellowes, general manager of Faversham’s Alexander Centre – where Widdecombe is due to appear in March 2020 – said: “We haven’t considered it yet, as it’s quite a long way off.”