Jerry Springer UK tour back on despite protests

In an unprecedented move, 21 theatres from around the UK (Plymouth Theatre Royal, Birmingham Hippodrome, York Grand Opera House, Leicester De Montfort Hall, Glasgow King's Theatre, Aberdeen His Majesties, Manchester Opera House, Oxford New Theatre, Cambridge Corn Exchange, Milton Keynes Theatre, Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Newcastle Theatre Royal, Bristol Hippodrome, Bradford Alhambra, Southend Cliffs Pavilion, Liverpool Empire, Cardiff Millennium, Nottingham Royal Concert Hall, Croydon Fairfield Halls, Brighton Dome) have united with the creative team and producers Avalon, to save the tour of the multi-award winning smash hit musical Jerry Springer – The Opera. The Olivier Award winning will now open at the Theatre Royal Plymouth on the 23rd January 2006.

This announcement follows The Arts Council England's recent refusal to fund the stricken tour, which had suffered the debilitating loss of 30% of its venues following well-publicised pressure from Christian Voice.

Co-writer and Director Stewart Lee, said: "Jerry Springer – The Opera was developed on public money in public spaces and belongs to the nation, whether the nation wants it or not. It would be nice if people outside the M25 could actually get to see it, despite people's best efforts to prevent this." 

Composer and Co-writer Richard Thomas, said: "I am overjoyed Jerry Springer – The Opera is going on tour in spite of such extreme protest. I am also buying a flak jacket. And sticking close to shadows."

Producer, Jon Thoday said: "I'm delighted that the small minority have not prevented the public from seeing this brilliant show. Freedom of speech and artistic freedom have prevailed."

The musical has already been seen by 425,000 people in the theatre and was watched by 2.4 million viewers on BBC Two on January 8th 2005 - a record TV viewing figure for a musical or opera. Jerry Springer – The Opera made theatre history by receiving all possible theatre awards for Best Musical. (The Olivier Awards, The Critics' Circle Theatre Awards, The Evening Standard Theatre Awards and The What's on Stage Awards).

"This is the most explosive theatrical event for years, and the biggest thrill at the National for decades"

Susannah Clapp, The Observer

The Theatre Royal Plymouth is delighted to be co-producers for the UK tour of Jerry Springer – The Opera and to be launching the UK run. Adrian Vinken, Chief Executive of the Theatre Royal Plymouth said: "The Theatre Royal Plymouth continually strives to produce high quality innovative, as well as established productions in Plymouth and is delighted to be co-producing Jerry Springer - The Opera and launching the musical in the South West on its UK tour. We are sure this critically acclaimed and award winning musical will prove to be as much a hit at the Theatre Royal as it has during its run at The National Theatre and the West End."

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