Threats, abuse, as Deborah Conway targeted by pro-Palestine protest at gig

Footage has emerged from a Hobart theatre as pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted a performance by the Jewish singer songwriter Deborah Conway | WATCH

A still from a video showing a confrontation between a concert goer and protester at the Deborah Conway show at the Playhouse Theatre in Hobart.

A video has emerged of ugly scenes at a Hobart theatre as pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted a performance by Jewish singer songwriter Deborah Conway, who accused those involved of “extreme intolerance”.

Palestinian-flag bearing protesters demonstrated outside Hobart’s Playhouse Theatre on Saturday night and some then disrupted the performance inside.

Conway, appearing alongside husband and musical collaborator Willy Zygier, had to repeatedly suspend the performance due to shouted questions, accusations and flag waving from protesters.

At one point, a woman appears to break a glass and threaten one of the protesters, while audience members are heard abusing protesters.

Tasmania Police on Tuesday night advised it had received a formal complaint relating to the disturbances and was investigating.

A self-described “autonomous group of pro-Palestine protesters” said the theatre disruption was a response to “publicly hateful” statements Conway had made about Palestinian children.

They said this included an ABC interview last year when, after being challenged to condemn the mass murder of Palestinian children, responded: “It depends on what you call kids.”

Conway, a leading figure in Australia’s music scene for decades and former lead singer of Do Re Me, was later quoted as explaining her remarks:

“I was trying to tell listeners, in the cut and thrust of a live interview situation, that when Hamas put guns in the hands of their adolescent sons to point at the enemy, Hamas steals their childhood, turns them into fighters and then turns them into casualty figures.

“It’s unbearably cruel. I wasn’t talking about babies or little children, nor was I defining what I think to be a child. It goes without saying that the deaths of innocents are always tragic.”

In the wake of the protest, Conway praised security staff for their handling of the situation and accused the protesters of “a dreadful display of extreme intolerance”.

Jewish singer songwriter Deborah Conway on stage. Picture: Supplied

A pro-Palestinian protester disrupts the concert. Picture: Supplied

“We were all confronted with a micro example of civilisational breakdown but the forces for civil discourse triumphed in the end,” Conway and Zygier posted on social media. “We completed our show.

“No matter how much we try to understand this movement, it defies understanding. Whoever funded this (and it’s hard to believe the protesters paid for their own tickets but if they did, thank you, it’s nice to have a sold out show!) they must be smart enough to realise they will not achieve any kind of altered course in the Middle East.

“They choose a few words out of a long interview and twist them to turn Deborah into a villain. It is the classic ancient blood libel, centuries old. In the interview Deborah was trying to explain how Hamas uses children, not who she thinks is a child, let alone who is worthy of life and death.”

The protest group said the Playhouse had ignored pleas to cancel Conway’s show in light of her “hateful statements”.

A protester is escorted out of the venue. Picture - Supplied

They accused some of her audience members of responding with “aggression … to our non-violent protest”. “We are disgusted yet unsurprised by the aggressive response,” they said in a statement.

The group vowed to continue to target venues that featured performances by “Zionists”.

Audience members described the event as “tense” and unsettling. However, Hobart Repertory Theatre Society president David Clements praised security and volunteer staff for their handling of the disruptions to the “Book of Life” performance.

“There were three interruptions which were managed by security and Playhouse staff and the performance was able to continue each time,” Mr Clements said.

“Patron safety and enjoyment are very important to us and we are grateful that no one was injured, although we acknowledge it may have been confronting for some of our patrons attending the performance.”