Award-winning artist apologises after attacking theatre wall with axe
A LEADING Scottish artist has apologised to a major new theatre in Manchester after attacking its wall with an axe.
Douglas Gordon, who won the Turner Prize in 1996, is understood to be responsible for striking the wall of the new Home venue, where a show he is directing, Neck of the Woods, is being staged.
The director of the festival in which the piece appears called the incident “totally unacceptable”.
The play, starring Charlotte Rampling, a 90-minute take on the children’s fable Little Red Riding Hood – who is saved from the belly of a wolf by a woodcutter – has received several poor reviews.
A newspaper in Manchester said the axe involved in the incident is a stage prop from the set of the play.
The damage to the concrete walls of the new theatre has been signed and dated by Mr Gordon.
The mark on the wall caused by an axe blow was inflicted after the third performance of the play on Saturday night at 10.28pm.
The review of the work in The Stage said that Gordon had appeared to be restless during the performance.
The blow was made to the concrete wall outside Door A to Theatre 1 of the venue, which is part of the Manchester International Festival.
The artist, known for his video and film work, has also illustrated the hole just outside Door A with a wolf’s paw.
Alex Poots, chief executive and artistic director of Manchester International Festival, said: “We understand that one of our artists acted in a wholly inappropriate way after the opening of Neck Of The Woods, causing slight damage to the fabric of Home’s new building.
“This is totally unacceptable and the artist involved will be paying for repairs.
“MIF and the artist have contacted staff who were present and our co-commissioning partners at Home to apologise.
“MIF is an artist-led festival – we support artists to make ambitious new work.
“We do not support or condone reckless, inappropriate or intimidating behaviour and will work with our co-commissioning partners and artistic and producing teams to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.”
The artist’s studio in Berlin has not issued a comment on the incident.
Gordon, 48, was born in Glasgow and attended the Glasgow School of Art before training further at the Slade School of Fine Art. His video and film work is much lauded.