Play cancelled because it might offend German tourists

Monday, 06 September 2010
Play cancelled because it might offend German tourists.
A play, which was due to show from the 17th August, was cancelled just minutes before the opening night. The play entitled ‘If the Invader Comes’ was to be performed by a small, voluntary, amateur dramatic group at the Banqueting House, Whitehall from August 17th – 21st. Its theme was a moment in September 1940 when it was believed that the Germans had actually landed in Kent and were about to drop paratroopers on London.

However, just hours before the opening, Major General Keith Cima, Resident Governor of the Tower of London and Director of the Banqueting House Whitehall, demanded that the play be cancelled as it might offend German tourists. The play, which the Governor had approved months before, had been in production since November and incorporated an exhibition and original artefacts from the Second World War.

A considerable amount of research had gone into the play and a German academic had been hired to look through the files at the Bundesarchiv in Freiburg. The theatre company had constructed a period cinema which was installed inside Banqueting House and had put together a display of British wartime memorabilia themed specifically to 1940 with some examples of period weaponry. It took two days just to unpack and install the set.

Just after 1.00 pm on 17th August, Major General Cima demanded that the organiser ‘close this event immediately and vacate the premises by the day’s end’. This he said was with the agreement of the governors. The reason Major General Cima gave for closing down the event was that the theme was calculated to cause distress to some of the German tourists visiting Banqueting House.

Simon Richards, Director of The Freedom Association, says ‘it’s time we were honest about our history and started treating people with intelligence. The German people are fully aware of the history of the Second World War. It’s an insult, both to their intelligence, and to the tens of millions who died in the Second World War, to try to pretend it never happened. It is essential that we fight to defend the freedom of expression for which so many British and allied forces gave their lives in the struggle against Nazi Germany.’