Graham Linehan play cancelled in Hebden Bridge, allegedly the lesbian capital of Europe

[ThePieceHall]

The local amateur theatre company has cancelled its upcoming production of Graham Linehan’s play, The Ladykillers, apparently citing ‘safety’ fears. You can read more about it here

https://www.hebdenbridge.co.uk/news/2025/181.html

Interesting comments on the forum: https://www.hebdenbridge.co.uk/forum/2025/037.html#p16

Yes, Dave Boardman, (who is very popular in our town), is the father of Cathy Boardman, who was sacked from BIMM Institute in Manchester for her gender critical views.

Hebden Bridge is full of miserable, pious people nowadays. I used to visit a friend there years ago and it was an amazing town filled with hippies and lesbians and a healthy dose of local folk.
Now it’s mean spirited, intolerant and filled with Londoners who have moved for the “vibe, man”. They’ve killed it off, replacing it with intolerant “queers”. I’m pleased my friend had finally moved away from HB and into a saner part of the north.

It used to be such a lovely place. Now it's seemingly filled with the rudest people in the UK.

In light of recent news headlines, (which we have only seen yesterday),

Does anyone know what this refers to?

Headlines on 15 December?

Any woman, lesbian or not, who agrees with this is turkey voting for Christmas.

Anyone who has half a brain and who agrees with this is a disgrace because a dog can tell a man and woman apart, no matter what they're dressed in, so to pretend that they are more stupid than a dog in order to be right on, means they are bumping weight pricks.

We’re not all like that! Some of us are really nice and chilled. And, importantly, can tell the difference between men and women.

We’re not that bad, honestly! We are mobbed every weekend, however, especially recently in the wake of the broadcasting of Sally Wainwright’s Riot Women.

I’m sure you are @ThePieceHall😀

Did you see the YouTube video the Edge of the Matrix made there in summer? That summed Hebden Bridge up well for me: some lovely people trying to live amongst the crazy.

I do apologise, that really wasn't fair of me! I suppose you can have a bad experience anywhere, but honestly? Not great.
Perhaps we just met the rudest people there all in one go!

Ah, that’s sad to hear, as we are, in the main, a very tolerant and forgiving town. I’m intrigued to hear about your experiences of rudenesses, though.

Oh well, I'm sure you're lovely! We just felt that the default was brusque to the point of offensive on various occasions. We're not the sort of people who jump to accusations of racism straight away, so concluded that for some reason we'd met all the grumpy people serving in shops and cafes in one day!
Lesson learned.
ps not as bad as certain places in France, though...

Had they not heard of him before? Bit suss!

Oh, that’s really sad to hear. I do wonder if it’s a case of Yorkshire brusqueness? It’s very much a town filled with people who call a spade (ie a digging implement) a spade. (Apart from the special people who engage in cancel culture because of hurty feelings). I will say, we’re not as ethnically diverse as we ought to be as a town. It’s interesting to consider if this is because of underlying racism? I am not Yorkshire born and bred but I have lived in Hebden Bridge for 25 years; there was a lot of pushback against ‘offcumdens’ until, maybe, 10 years ago, when everyone realised that migration happens everywhere and no one can afford the insane house prices. Also, it was a double bind for those on the left who hated the idea of ‘offcumdens’ but equally could not be seen to objecting to the presence of refugees and migrants in our town.

The idea of any kind of theatre being "safe" is laughable. Theatre is not supposed to be safe. It is supposed to be an art form in which the audience and the performers together create the emotional tenor of the performance. The audience has an effect on the performance and the performance has an effect on the audience. There is always an element of risk. People might have their preconceptions challenged or they might find themselves laughing at something uncomfortably close to home. In Greek theatre the idea of the plays was to induce catharsis, which is hardly a safe activity. Over the centuries, theatre has been banned for being too seditious, it has been censored, plays have been considered dangerous, works have been condemned for example Ibsen's play Ghosts was banned in some countries for being blasphemous and described by the Telegraph as "an open drain".

In Ibsen's case, the condemnation of several of his plays meant that he was not popular and successful as a playwright at the time because people were afraid of his views.

Yes, all really good points. I've no idea. We live in Yorkshire, just another part. Anyway, I suppose it can happen anywhere, and we're always keen to think the best of folks, and just put it down to experience.
Anyway, sorry, I'm derailing the thread!

Does anyone know?

None of it makes sense but as they referenced "headlines" it would be good to know what was so shocking.

Was this the day that although aquitted he had to pay costs for a damaged phone?

Are the staff being kept safe from having Glinner followers damaging phones.

Seriously, to make such a dramatic statement and then not be specific about what is so threatening is just ridiculous.

Fascinating defence of inclusivity and free speech by ban-supporter Elly in the context that, according to another poster, the cancellation was for the safety of the performers.

Where on earth does Freedom of Speech feature when a play is cancelled in case the actors are attacked.

Elly also argues that GL is against free speech. Er no: he has spoken out where others have felt censored because he believes in free speech !

I have close friends in HB and visit often. It does seem a friendly community orientated place.

But oh Lordy, the long earnest ‘statements’ about everything. I was reading a lengthy statement pinned on a gate explaining why the owners had mowed their own field.

And let’s not forget that one arts / community centre in HB reported a woman to the police for taking a photo of a GC sticker to show her partner. W Yorks Police showed up on her doorstep and told her off, saying she had committed a ‘no crime hate incident’. She had not stuck the sticker, just photographed it. A 70+ lesbian woman whose parter was bedridden with cancer.

W Yorks Police showed up on her doorstep and told her off

Crappest plot idea ever for season 4 of Happy Valley 😉

Are the staff being kept safe from having Glinner followers damaging phones.

I think this must be it.

Out if the question that TRAs would be outside creating too much noise for the play to be heard or letting off smoke flares, releasing insects etc

😂😂

"We acknowledge that this movement is full of dangerously violent people but we aren't going to do anything about it because we're cowards."

Can you imagine the withering look from Catherine Cawood, accompanied by some under-her-breath muttering about them all being utter twunts?!

😂

She needs a new antagonist now Tommy Lee Royce is dead though, a 70 year old evil terf would be a perfect replacement.

No, but I will disappear down that rabbit hole shortly. Thanks for the recommendation.