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A Dolly Parton-themed musical was suspended after the whole cast walked off stage in protest of an audience member who was ‘disgusted by a gay character’.
Stevie Webb, an actor in the production Here You Come Again, has spoken out about homophobic abuse which is being directed at the cast of the musical nearly every week.
A show last Wednesday at the Opera House in Manchester was delayed after a woman shouting homophobic slurs caused a ‘ruckus’ amongst audience members.
Mr Webb said the incident came after a show in London where a man had to be ejected for using a homophobic slur.
Dolly Parton has long been a supporter of LGBT rights and in 2014 spoke out in favour of gay marriage.
In a video posted on TikTok, Mr Webb fumed: ‘The amount of audience members that we have had to eject from our show due to homophobia is insane.
‘Just this week, in Manchester alone, last night we had to eject someone who was shouting out slurs.
‘On Wednesday we had to stop the whole show, because a woman was so disgusted there was a gay character on the stage.
A production of Here You Come Again: The Dolly Parton Musical was suspended in Manchester due to homophobic abuse
Stevie Webb, an actor in the production, has spoken out about homophobic abuse directed at the cast
‘She was shouting out and then all the audience started shouting at her and there was a massive ruckus.
‘She was eventually ejected and we could start again but we were stopped for 15 or 20 minutes.
‘It is crazy it is happening nearly every single week and it just blows my mind.
‘This is a Dolly Parton musical, first of all. It is just me and Dolly Parton on stage, my character and Dolly Parton.
‘London was the worst which is crazy to me. I remember one guy who was shouting the f-slur he was like “I’m not here to watch some f-ing f***** talk about his boyfriend, I’m just here to see Dolly Parton”.
‘It’s just like listen to what you just said, you’re gay. It’s a Dolly Parton musical mate, you’re gay, it’s going to be a little bit gay obviously.
‘But the amount of people, it has really opened my eyes because we are in such a bubble in this industry, but travelling the country and seeing how many people literally cannot bare to see a gay person depicted on stage, it is wild.
‘I feel very sorry for them, it would be like if I had that reaction to the colour blue because it exists, it’s not going anywhere, but I could not escape it.
The production at the Opera House Theatre in Manchester was stopped due to a ‘ruckus’ caused by homophobic slurs from a member of the audience
The musical tells the story of a diehard fan whose fantasy version of Dolly Parton gets him through trying times
‘So I feel really bad for them because I would be like “Oh f*** the sky” but eventually I’d probably just realise oh it’s not actually hurting me and it is not affecting my life, it is just blue and it’s just not my favourite colour.
‘But no, they don’t come to that realisation. It is amazing.
‘But also, read the synopsis. It is a musical and it is a Dolly Parton musical. You’re gay.’
Directed by Gabriel Barre, the musical comedy tells the story of a diehard fan whose fantasy version of international icon Dolly Parton gets him through trying times.
ATG Entertainment, which runs Manchester Opera House, has been contacted for comment.
