Malthouse Theatre advises patrons of possible protests
A major Melbourne theatre will allow ticketholders to attend another performance if they want to avoid a Creatives for Palestine protest.
Actors, arts workers and even a children’s theatre group took to social media to add their names to a Creatives for Palestine day of action on Wednesday that appeared to be limited to small groups and isolated protests.
Zoe Terakes, star of hit horror movie Talk to Me, Deadloch’s Kate Box and musician Jen Cloher were among the artists who pictured themselves in Palestinian colours or wearing a keffiyeh scarf in a display of solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The cast of the CDP Theatre Producers show, The Smeds and the Smoos, posed for a photo with signs that read “Stand with Palestine” and “Free Palestine”.
“Over 6000 children have been killed during this war,” said the caption on their social media post. “Children who should be playing, laughing and dancing are instead buried under rubble.”
Ahead of Wednesday’s protest, a leading Melbourne theatre company issued a warning to patrons and said they may want to avoid attending the evening’s performance.
The notice from Malthouse Theatre warned patrons of the possibility that “collective action” may happen around the theatre, and gave them the option of changing their tickets.
Melbourne Theatre Company, whose end-of-year-show is called A Very Jewish Christmas Carol, did not issue an advisory to patrons ahead of Wednesday’s performance.
The pre-emptive move by the Malthouse Theatre follows the unauthorised pro-Palestine protest taken by three actors at Sydney Theatre Company, who pulled on keffiyeh scarves at the curtain call after a performance of The Seagull.
The Malthouse notice was issued to theatregoers ahead of the performance of Hour of the Wolf, staged by artistic director Matthew Lutton.
“So we can care for you, our audience, we are advising you of this planned collective public action, so you are aware that personal gestures may be taken by those in the building on 13 December,” the notice said.
The company said it respected people’s right to freedom of expression, but recognised some patrons may not want to be exposed to it.”
Organisers of the Creatives for Palestine protest had urged supporters to show solidarity with Palestinian people by wearing the keffiyeh scarf, badges or shirts.
The group, which attracted thousands of signatures from the creative arts sector and others, has called for a permanent ceasefire.
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