Terry Gilliam, the former Monty Python star, has been “cancelled” by one of Britain’s leading theatres because some of its staff had concerns about his views.
Gilliam, 80, had been due to co-direct the Stephen Sondheim musical Into the Woods at the Old Vic in London next year. The American composer had expressed support for Gilliam’s artistic vision for the production.
The theatre, however, has unexpectedly announced the cancellation of the show. Gilliam, who could not be contacted yesterday, is said to have upset members of staff at the Old Vic because of his views on various topics, including Harvey Weinstein and trans rights.
Last month Gilliam publicly supported the comedian Dave Chappelle who has been accused of attacks on the trans community. Gilliam said Chapelle was “socially aware, dangerously provocative and gut-wrenchingly funny”.
Chappelle’s perceived anti-LGBTQ comedy skits had led to walkouts by staff at Netflix, which has a long-standing contract with the comedian.
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Last year Gilliam described the #MeToo movement as a “witch hunt” and while saying he “hated” the film producer and sexual predator Weinstein, added that there were “decent people” who were “getting hammered” by the movement and its highlighting of abuses of power.
Weinstein was one of the most powerful producers in Hollywood until he was named in the scandals. He was imprisoned over sexual assault charges in 2020. “There are many victims in Harvey’s life and I feel sympathy for them but then Hollywood is full of very ambitious people who are adults and they make choices,” Gilliam said. “We all make choices and I could tell you who did make the choice and who didn’t. I hate Harvey. I had to work with him and I know the abuse.”
Gilliam also raised hackles in an interview with The Independent last year. After being questioned about the privileges of “white men” he replied: “When I announce that I’m a black lesbian in transition people take offence at that. Why?”
The Old Vic was the British theatre most affected by the #MeToo movement after allegations were made about the actor Kevin Spacey during his tenure as artistic director of the venue. Following an investigation the theatre said 19 people had made allegations of “inappropriate” behaviour by Spacey. It said his “star power” had meant people were reluctant to make complaints about him to management. The theatre also suffered a financial hit from the pandemic although it did salvage some money, and credit, through its innovative digital stagings.
John Berry, former artistic director of the English National Opera, whose production company Scenario Two holds the rights for Into the Woods, said they were “focusing on finding a new home for this show”. He said: “These things happen. It’s not the first change of plan for a West End show or the last, and current times everywhere are unpredictable.” He added: “The designs and vision for the show is vintage Gilliam.”
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Gilliam’s former Monty Python partners have been critical of “cancel culture”. It was announced this year that John Cleese was to explore the phenomenon in a new series on Channel 4. He has criticised the “stifling” effect of political correctness on comedy. According to the channel, Cleese’s series will “explore why a new ‘woke’ generation is trying to rewrite the rules on what can and can’t be said”.
No one from the Old Vic was available for comment last night. It told The Stage in a statement that a meeting had taken place between its executive director Kate Varah and members of staff following the announcement in May of Into the Woods. It said senior management had later met Gilliam and his co-director Leah Hausman “as a matter of course to discuss our culture and values”. The theatre said it had “mutually agreed” with Scenario Two “that the production of Into the Woods will not take place at the Old Vic”. The show had been due to open in April and thousands of tickets had been sold.
Word wars
JK Rowling The author of the Harry Potter novels was subject to a book-buying boycott and had physical tributes to her — such as her engraved handprints in Edinburgh — vandalised after being accused of transphobia. Rowling had mocked an article headlined “for people who menstruate”, writing: “I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”
Dave Chappelle The American comedian’s latest show included comments about “trans-exclusionary radical feminists” and led to protests outside the headquarters of Netflix, which streamed the show, with protesters urging it to banish “transphobia and hate crime”.
Winston Marshall Mumford & Sons’ banjo player quit the band after he was criticised for tweeting his support for the conservative US author Andy Ngo. He said he feared his views would “inevitably” bring his bandmates more trouble.
Bret Easton Ellis The American author had his most famous book, American Psycho, dropped by his original publisher three decades ago. The book features a man mutiliating women. Another publisher took it on and it became a huge if controversial success.
