A performance of musical Rent in Leeds was disrupted this week after an audience member left in the middle of the show as they ‘didn’t realise it was about gays’.
The theatre-goer, who attended the Saturday performance of the show at The Carriageworks Theatre, has been branded ‘ignorant’ by the company putting on the show.
Theatre company Bite My Thumb released a statement condemning the ‘small-minded’ and ‘ignorant’ display, promising to donate to an LGBTQ+ charity to help combat the individual’s words.
They wrote: ‘After a storming performance of “Today 4 U, Tomorrow 4 Me,” a single audience member, picked up their coat, rose from their chair and left the auditorium.
‘On exiting the individual turned to a member of the front of house team and declared “I DIDN’T REALISE THIS SHOW WAS ABOUT GAYS”.’
The company insisted that everyone involved, from cast to backstage crew were ‘utterly disgusted to hear about this display of small minded ignorance. As a theatre company, we purposely chose Rent to provide a voice to the LGBTQ+ community and educate on the horrors of the Aids epidemic.’
They pledged to donate a percentage of Saturday’s performance to a LGBTQ+ charity decided upon by the last of Rent, and said they hoped the gesture would ‘take a single individual’s hate and create something positive from it’.
‘So thank you to that close-minded, out-dated person,’ Bite My Thumb continued in the statement.
‘Your appalling attitude now means an underfunded LGBTQ+ organisation will receive a donation it so desperately needs and will put to good use.
‘Hate is always foolish and love is always wise.’
The company was met by an outpouring of support on social media, with one person who was present in the audience on Saturday condemning the individual’s ‘horrible attitude’ and stating they would ‘also happily add to your donation’.
They went on to praise the ‘absolutely wonderful’ performance on Saturday night.
Another also asked if there was a way to add to the company’s donation, and said: ‘I was there on Friday night, it was an incredible performance.
‘That some people are so small minded is just horrific.’
World-renowned rock opera Rent tells the story of a group of friends struggling to make ends meet in New York City, while living under the shadow of the Aids epidemic.
It was first written by Jonathan Larson, whose life the critically acclaimed Tick, Tick… Boom!, starring Andrew Garfield, is loosely based on.
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