Even as reports suggested that the staging of the play Agnes of God in Hyderabad on Friday and Saturday would be cancelled, director Vinay Varma has confirmed that the show will go on.
Telangana MLA Elvis Stephenson told the Indian Express that a five-member committee would watch the play on Friday to determine if it was indeed offensive. Varma says he has not yet been informed of this.
“We have not heard anything from anyone about stopping the play so we are going ahead with it,” Varma said. “I wrote to the Police Commissioner yesterday to ask for protection. We will continue as usual.”
Varma had explained the circumstances of the Mumbai staging of the play and pointed out that it had received a clearance from Maharashtra’s board that approves play scripts. Mahabanoo Kotwal, who acted in the Mumbai play also reportedly confirmed this to the Hyderabad police commissioner.
Agnes of God was originally scheduled to be staged at the BM Birla Science Centre in Hyderabad on October 9 and 10. On Monday, following repeated calls, emails and threats of a police case being filed by members of the Catholic Secular Forum based in Mumbai, the venue wrote to Varma and cancelled his booking. The centre has refunded his deposit.
Varma has now shifted the staging venue to Lamakaan in Banjara Hills in the city, where it will be staged at the same dates and time.
“The government is welcome to attend the play – if they can get tickets,” Varma said. “Both shows have been sold out.”
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Telangana MLA Elvis Stephenson told the Indian Express that a five-member committee would watch the play on Friday to determine if it was indeed offensive. Varma says he has not yet been informed of this.
“We have not heard anything from anyone about stopping the play so we are going ahead with it,” Varma said. “I wrote to the Police Commissioner yesterday to ask for protection. We will continue as usual.”
Varma had explained the circumstances of the Mumbai staging of the play and pointed out that it had received a clearance from Maharashtra’s board that approves play scripts. Mahabanoo Kotwal, who acted in the Mumbai play also reportedly confirmed this to the Hyderabad police commissioner.
Agnes of God was originally scheduled to be staged at the BM Birla Science Centre in Hyderabad on October 9 and 10. On Monday, following repeated calls, emails and threats of a police case being filed by members of the Catholic Secular Forum based in Mumbai, the venue wrote to Varma and cancelled his booking. The centre has refunded his deposit.
Varma has now shifted the staging venue to Lamakaan in Banjara Hills in the city, where it will be staged at the same dates and time.
“The government is welcome to attend the play – if they can get tickets,” Varma said. “Both shows have been sold out.”