Israeli shows cancelled in Edinburgh
Jerusalem-based Incubator Theater ordered to evacuate venue hosting Edinburgh Festival Fringe following anti-Israel protests. Ben-Gurion University's student dance company warned that its participation in festival could endanger dancers.
As first reported by Ynet, the pressure began two weeks when dozens of world renowned artists issued a petition against the Israeli company's performance due to the Israeli operation in Gaza.
At first, the Underbelly venue hosting the festival said it had no intention of giving in to the pressure. "We believe that all artists, from whatever creed or nation, must have the freedom of expression," the venue's spokesman had said in a statement.
But over the last weekend, following a demonstration of about 100 people outside the venue, the management issued a short statement saying that "the logistics of policing and stewarding the protest around The Reid Hall – and the effect of the disturbance on Underbelly and the other venues’ shows – make it untenable for the show to continue there."
The Incubator Theater company had been invited to perform its production, "The City," a film noir-style hip-hop opera, at the Underbelly venue in the Scottish capital from July 30 till August 25. The cancellation threatened to cut short a series of shows which would have gained the unusual production international exposure, but the group members vowed over the weekend to find another venue to host their shows.
"The last few days have been depressing, but we are trying to remain in high spirits and find an alternative venue," said the company's founder and director, Arik Eshet. "In the meantime we'll sing on the streets, we'll sing for peace."
Eshet added that he understands the Underbelly venue's decision as the noise caused by the protests disrupted the performance of other shows in the area. He stressed, however, that "the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is known for its tolerance and containment. It's a festival which supports freedom of expression for all. I think that the festival is losing its grip in favor of loud groups."
In the meantime, the Incubator theater found an alternative venue, which it kept secret in order to allow Monday's show to go as planned.
The Incubator show which was held as planned receive excellent reactions, and the group members believe that after the reviews the production will raise a lot of interest among the festival's audience.
Following the cancellation of the Incubator Theater's shows, the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev decided to cancel the performances of its student dance company which were scheduled for August 9-12 at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
According to the university, the decision was taken in light of the intentions of anti-Israel protesters to demonstrate against Operation Protective Edge and at the urging of the venue’s operator.
"The personal safety of the members of the dance company is the most important factor and we will certainly not compromise on that in any way," explained BGU President Prof. Rivka Carmi.
"We received warnings that their participation could endanger the dancers, therefore, in consultation with the relevant parties, we made the hard decision not to send the company to the planned performances in Edinburgh.
"It is a shame that this is the state of affairs - where artistic freedom of expression is being sorely tested. The company has no connection to politics, but everything has become highly politicized. Considering the quality of the company, its withdrawal from the festival is a loss to all art lovers and we are dismayed at the necessity."
The demand to cancel Israeli artists' performance in international festivals and different exposure platforms abroad has been growing in recent years, and Operation Protective Edge is no exception.
Last weekend, Ynet reported, a violent protest was held outside the venue where the Israeli Sheketak Group was performing in Spain. The show was secured by local police forces and the dancers were evacuated from the are unharmed.
"It's natural pro-Palestinian organizations to fuel their activities against Israeli artists during a time like this," says Foreign Ministry Deputy Director-General Rafi Gamzu, ad of the Culture and Science Relations Division.
"The Israeli Embassy in Scotland, like other embassies, is in close contact with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Scotland's culture ministry and the local police," he told Ynet. "The attempts to disrupt the shows in Edinburgh are the work of a loud and aggressive group which is terrorizing the festival itself.
"Despite the hooliganism, the festival's management is acting responsibility and refusing to get caught in the political turmoil. It should be stressed that the number of cancellations of Israeli performances abroad is very small, and I am talking about all areas of art. Most of the events are being held as planned despite disruption attempts."
Gamzu added that despite the situation, foreign representatives are still willing to come to Israel to view local productions. "These days we are working vigorously on international exposures in the fields of theater, dance and music, and there is a very impressive response," he said.
"I assume that as the events die down, those who are afraid to come – for understandable reasons – will arrive too. so far, we have not seen even one cancellation for political reasons."
