10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Manchester performance of Dolly Parton musical suspended due to homophobic abuse
A Dolly Parton-themed musical had to be suspended mid-show in Manchester due to homophobic abuse, an actor in the production has said.
Stevie Webb, who plays a superfan of the country music icon in Here You Come Again, said an incident at the Opera House last Wednesday resulted in the whole cast having to 'leave the stage, because a woman was so disgusted there was a gay character'.
He wrote on TikTok that the incident last Wednesday was followed by similar trouble over the weekend when a man had to be removed from the audience.
Webb said there had also been problems during the London run of the production. He described an incident involving a man shouting an offensive slur and adding: 'I just want to see Dolly Parton.'
Webb said the incidents had 'really opened [his] eyes.
'We're in such a bubble in this industry. But travelling the country and seeing how many people literally cannot bear to see a gay person depicted on stage – it's wild.'
ATG Entertainment, which runs the Manchester venue, told the BBC it took a 'zero tolerance' approach to such incidents.
The Opera House said such incidents were rare and that anyone engaging in abusive behaviour would be removed immediately.
Directed by Gabriel Barre, the musical comedy sees the country music singer appear like a fairy godmother to deliver life lessons in song to a stricken fan.
