Various faith groups have joined in their concern over a controversial show that features in Adelaide’s upcoming Fringe Festival.
Muslims and Jews joined Catholics in voicing their disapproval of the show, which is called ‘Come Heckle Christ’ and encourages members of the crowd to verbally abuse and throw items at a man dressed as Christ.
The show is advertised as the perfect show for “anyone who enjoys yelling at Jesus whilst watching a dramatic re-enactment of everyone’s favourite fairy tale: The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ”.
Catholic Archbishop of Adelaide Philip Wilson condemned the show in a letter distributed to South Australian parishes on January 31.
He also encouraged Catholics to write letters of complaint to the State Premier or their local MP.
“While I am a strong advocate for freedom of speech and a supporter of the arts, I believe this production is extremely offensive to people of any religious persuasion and insulting to many South Australians,” the Archbishop wrote.
“It is outrageous and entirely inappropriate for this sort of anti-Christian, blasphemous performance to be included in a public festival such as the Fringe.”
The Islamic Society of South Australia’s secretary Waleed Alkhazrajy also called for the show’s cancellation.
“All the Muslims around the world share the same belief that any acts or reference to depict any of the Abrahamic faiths’ prophets is a blasphemy and it is not acceptable,” Dr Alkhazrajy told The Advertiser.
Director of the Institute for Judaism and Civilisation Rabbi Shimon Cowen told The Record the show was offensive to religion as a whole.
“It denigrates religious belief in general and so strikes at the foundations of our culture and civilisation,” he said.
“Apart from being deeply insensitive and hurtful to Christians, its implicit attack on religious belief in general attacks a universal precept of respect for the creator.”
Rabbi Cowen added that if a show with racial slurs was proposed, it would be immediately cancelled.
“By exactly the same token, such overt offence, which has nothing to do with discussion or intelligent discourse, against groups of religious people should not be given exposure in a public cultural ‘festival’,” he said.
The same show was performed at Melbourne’s Fringe Festival last year.
Perth’s version of the festival, which is running now, does not include the controversial show.
A Facebook page called ‘Stop ‘Come Heckle Christ’ Blasphemy’ was set up last week, and had accumulated more than 1,200 ‘Likes’ within two days.
An online petition requesting South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill cancel the show from the Fringe Festival has attracted more than 700 signatures.
But so far the organisers of the Festival have refused to cancel the show. The first performance of ‘Come Heckle Christ’ in Adelaide is scheduled for February 27.