Royal Court accused of censorship after Tibet play pulled for fear of offending China

THE Royal Court Theatre has been accused of censorship after it cancelled a play about Tibet over concerns it would damage relations with China. According to documents, the British Council advised that Pah-la coincided with “significant political meetings” in China.

The advice was that the decision to show the play could harm the West End theatre’s ability to work in the country. There were also warnings from a council official, serving as a first secretary in the UK’S embassy in Beijing, that it could have an impact on a joint arts programme in China. The documents emerged in a Freedom of Information request by the Guardian.

The theatre claimed it pulled the play for financial reasons and planned to run it next year. However, it had already faced criticism from Abhishek Majumdar, the play’s Indian author, who said it was under British Council pressure.

Nick Marchand, of the council, advised: “All we can do is give you a feel for the sensitivities and potential consequences.” Vicky Featherstone, the theatre’s artistic director, said: “It is evident to us, in a post-brexit era where cultural diplomacy is being used as a bridge to trade, that we must protect potentially silenced voices more than ever.”