A CONTROVERSIAL play which features a woman defecating on stage should be stopped, a family values campaigner has claimed.

The Censor has shocked audiences at the Octagon Theatre with its graphic scenes, including the one where actress Sarah Parker simulates the act of emptying her bowels for the sexual gratification of another character.

Today family values and decency campaigner Tom Jones called on theatre bosses to halt performances of the play and review their policy on the content of what is considered acceptable on stage.

Decency

Mr Jones, who leads the Snowball Trust group, said: "They should stop this now and listen to the views of people who care about decency and values.

"This play seems to be another example of certain groups trying to push the boundaries further and further.

"Artistic freedom is all very well, but I think we need to take a good look at what is being portrayed as entertainment and what is really desirable and acceptable to the people of Bolton."

He added: "What happens behind closed doors is one thing, but I think people need to think much more carefully about what is pushed out into the public arena."

Mr Jones, from Smithills, is now appealing for the Octagon's board to set up a forum including people from a wide spectrum of backgrounds and beliefs to operate a vetting process on what is allowed to reach the stage.

He said: "Sensible adult discussion about the content of productions might lead to a more suitable conclusion. Why not let us challenge the views of a writer that something graphic is necessary to the artistic merit of the play? If his answer is convincing he should have nothing to fear."

Bolton Council's conditions for a theatre licence state that the licensee "shall not suffer, allow or promote any exhibition, recitation, acting, singing or dancing which is obscene, offensive to public decency or likely to excite any breach of the peace".

It also states that there should be "no indecency or impropriety of dress, dance, gesture or conduct permitted on the stage".

The licensing department does not operate as an active watchdog body, but they will investigate if they receive a significant number of complaints about a show.

The play has been promoted as "a gripping brief encounter between a pornographic film actress and the man with the licensing scissors, a moving parable of the critic and artist as a healing and finally tragic love story".

The Rocket Theatre Company, which is performing the show at the Bill Naughton Theatre at the Octagon, have vowed to carry on their show which runs until Saturday.

Spokesman Martin Harris said: "We made it quite clear in our literature and publicity that this is an adult play and the scene is included in the context of the subject matter.

"Anyone who may be offended should not buy a ticket."

The company's previous production at the Octagon was called I Licked a Slag's Deodorant.

The Censor is due to run until Saturday night.

Challenging

Last night the Octagon's executive director, Simon Stallworthy, who has only just taken up his new post, defended the play's presentation.

But he admitted he was not familiar with the work of the Rocket Theatre Company.

Mr Stallworthy said: "The studio theatre is there for more challenging, more progressive work and is available to be hired out by members of the community, which is what's happened in this case.

"As far as I'm aware the play has a sound performance history and what is being presented is reasonably well known, contemporary work.

"Drama is strewn with images which, taken out of context, could be considered offensive but within the context of the piece have a justified reason to be included.

"What I'm not for is censoring or cutting pieces without due need."

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