Theatre-goers flee in disgust at Father Ted swastika scene

IN what could almost be a scene from the legendary sitcom, theatregoers in England stormed out after a drama group recreated a Father Ted episode featuring a swastika.

Oldbury Rep Theatre Group in the West Midlands chose to stage a version of the Are You Right There Father Ted? episode, which features Nazi memorabilia.

But some have criticised the decision to choose the episode close to Armistice Day.

An anonymous theatre-goer told the local press: ‘There are loads of episodes of Father Ted for them to choose from, so what made them select the one that features swastikas knowing full well that the week ended with Armistice Day, marking 100 years since the end of the First World War?

‘It upset many people as the walkouts proved. It was wholly inappropriate timing. Why did they not realise they were putting their foot in it?’ The episode, the first of the third series, sees Ted borrow a copy of Stephen King’s The Shining from a friend, Father Seamus Fitzpatrick.

Ted is surprised by Father Fitzpatrick’s sizeable collection of Nazi memorabilia – which features a swastika. The show, which ran throughout the week and finished a day before Armistice Day on Saturday night, allegedly saw up to 32 people walk out in disgust on one night and up to 25 following suit on another day.

The theatre group said they tried hard to emulate the hit show – which starred Dermot Morgan and Ardal O’Hanlon during the 1990s.

An Oldbury Rep Theatre spokesperson said: ‘We are obviously disappointed that you have been contacted by a member of the public to complain about the use of a swastika during our production.

‘We tried very hard to transfer the TV series to the stage as accurately as we could and the scene came from an episode from Series 3.

‘However, we are obviously sorry if some took offence.’