After the two performers portraying Romeo and Juliet exchanged a “passionate” same-sex kiss in front of the pupils, several parents were offended by an all-female performance of Romeo and Juliet.
A woman played Romeo in a “all-female, modern production” of “Shakespeare” presented by Dire Theatre Company at Campbelltown Performing Arts High last week.
Students in years 8 to 10 were allegedly surprised by the show, which was billed as having an all-female cast, according to MP Mark Latham, who brought up the matter in the NSW Parliament.
‘There’s passionate kissing scene going on stage,’ Mr Latham said. ‘Some of the boys yelled out, others were distressed, some of the girls were upset.
‘The parents are very upset with the note that went out where there was no mention of this. The kids came home saying there were two women kissing.’
Then, Mr. Latham asserted that there were religious families of different faiths that did not support same-sex partnerships and that the school had not requested permission to show the performance.
‘It’s inappropriate, this shouldn’t happen in front of 13 and 14-year-olds unless you have parental permission. Some of these kids haven’t even hit adolescence,’ he said.
‘There are Christian, Hindu, Muslim and socially conservative parents in the Campbelltown community who have a different view and were not given the option to opt-out.’
His assertions were refuted by education minister Sarah Mitchell, who also noted that the message was “compliant with the Department of Education’s Controversial Issues in Schools policy” and that parents had given their children full permission to attend.
‘The exchange of affection by actors during the play was considered appropriate to the script,’ Ms Mitchell said.
The Education Minister says no parents have complained to the school.
In order to modernize the stories, the Dire Theatre Company visits schools all around the state and conducts “Shakespeare in Schools” workshops.
According to Adam O’Brien, creative director of the organization, there have never been any complaints regarding the play’s rendition.
‘Back in the day, only men would have been allowed to perform – Juliet would have been performed by a man 400 years ago,’ he said.
‘I would think it would be fairly understood that Romeo and Juliet would have scenes of affection onstage.
‘It would be naïve to expect the world’s greatest love story would omit any of the love.’
Campbelltown Performing Arts High has been contacted for comment.
A spokesperson for NSW Education told Daily Mail Australia there were no links to gender, sexuality or gender fluidity in the play, and the interactions from the cast were all in line with the play’s well known story.
‘A performance of Romeo and Juliet by an external theatre company was held at Campbelltown Performing Arts High School as part of routine curriculum content exploring Shakespeare for students in Years 8,9 and 10,’ the spokesperson said.
‘Attendance was optional, and in line with the Department of Education’s Controversial Issues in Schools policy, parents not wishing their child to attend were able to opt-out. Teachers were present at the performance to provide supervision.’