A SCOTTISH theatre has been criticised after calling off a show set to platform Palestinians with just three days' notice.
The Eastgate Theatre in Peebles wrote to ticket holders on Wednesday to say the show Land & Resistance – due to be held on Saturday – had been cancelled following a “serious complaint”.
The show was being funded and facilitated by the Borders branch of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC). In an email seen by The National, theatre bosses said the complaint concerned “a prominent individual within the national organisation”.
However, organisers of the SPSC say they have been “blindsided” by the decision, with the show having been “months in the making”.
They say they have not had any clarification from the theatre on who the complaint concerns or the nature of it.
In the email, Eastgate Theatre said following research it was determined “that certain connections and values associated with key individuals involved in the national organisation conflict with our core principles of respect, equality, and inclusion”.
SPSC has now written directly to the theatre challenging the decision and is attempting to claim compensation for its losses.
The show was due to feature the work of photographer Mohamed Zwahra, the poetry of Salsabil El Awaisi and a discussion led by Edinburgh University lecturer Dr Kholoud Al Ajarma. It was set to finish with a screening of Canadian documentary My Tree.
The email from Eastgate Theatre said: “A letter has been received which contained a serious complaint concerning a prominent individual within the national organisation, under whose auspices this event is being run.
“As a result of this complaint, we researched the organisation, SPSC, and discovered reports concerning this individual which conflicts with our responsibilities as a charity to the community and our charitable purposes.
“After careful review, it was determined that certain connections and values associated with key individuals involved in the national organisation conflict with our core principles of respect, equality and inclusion.”
SPSC has accused the theatre of making defamatory comments about the branch in its email to ticket holders.
Organisers have demanded an apology from the theatre and for the comments to be retracted.
In a statement, Kimberley Davidson of Borders SPSC said: “We’ve worked incredibly hard to bring Palestinian voices to Peebles, at a time when our advocacy is needed more than ever.
“As locals, we have all supported the Eastgate as a venue and are so disappointed by their defamatory comments about people standing in solidarity with Palestinians and their decision to exclude Palestinian voices from programming.”
It is not possible for the event to be relocated at such short notice, organisers said, but it will go ahead in a condensed format outside the theatre from 11am on Saturday “bringing attention to attempts to cancel Palestinian voices”.
The SPSC branch said the only notification it received of the cancellation was on Wednesday morning when two SPSC members, who were in the venue by chance, were informed.
Dr Al Ajarma said: “In a time when the world is horrified by what’s happening in Gaza and Palestine, cancelling this event is not just a missed opportunity, it is a loss for understanding and solidarity, and an attempt to silence those trying to raise awareness about the situation.
“As violence against Palestinians continues, and their lives are shattered, we need more than ever to come together, educate ourselves and amplify the voices of those who are enduring unimaginable hardships.”
An SPSC spokesperson added: “It is disappointing that the venue has taken the decision to cancel while denying Scotland’s longest-standing Palestine solidarity organisation a right of reply or even knowledge of the alleged complaint.
“Too often we see performative solidarity, with organisations and individuals happy to host Palestinian cultural events and activities, happy to fundraise for the Palestinians they view as a charitable cause, but only under the condition they don’t discuss the genocide, occupation or who is responsible.
“We expect better from an arts venue and registered charity and we demand an immediate retraction of their defamatory comments.”
Eastgate Theatre has been approached for comment.
