Opera North: not homophobic, just craven?

The kerfuffle over the collapse of a community opera, Beached, to a libretto by Billy Elliot writer Lee Hall with music by Harvey Brough, seems to have gone international. In short, the main school in the Bridlington area fielding 300 participants withdrew when Hall refused to change the lines (sung by an adult in the piece): "Of course I'm queer/ That's why I left here/ So if you infer/ That I prefer/ A lad to a lass/ And I'm working class/ I'd have to concur".

It is understandable that the show could no longer go on with only two weeks left. Essentially Opera North, organisers of the project, could hardly have insisted that the school stepped back in line. But the statement from general director Richard Mantle was not exactly firm in its opposition to the withdrawal. These are the objectionable paragraphs:

"We do have to recognise that this project is being treated as part of the core curriculum for the school concerned, and to that extent very differently from a community project where participation is voluntary.

"Opera North did recognise that some of the subject matter contained within the piece would need to be handled in ways which would be appropriate to the age and background of the performers and intended audience. We have been working with both the librettist, the school and participants to achieve a solution which was appropriate."

What he could have said has been eloquently penned for him by actor-blogger Jon Dryden Taylor:

"Opera North is very disappointed in the decision made by the school to withdraw its pupils from our production, which has come so late as to make the scheduled run impossible. While respecting the concerns of parents and teachers, the company cannot agree with their decision.

"We remain committed to producing this opera, and will not allow a dated narrative of shame around homosexuality to prevent us from presenting works of art which feature gay characters. It is not harmful to children for them to be informed that homosexuality exists; it is a simple fact of life. We would welcome the chance to collaborate with any community and school in our catchment area who would like to work with us on mounting a production of Beached as it is currently scripted, and greatly regret that it cannot be in Bridlington."

In an ideal world, that's what Mantle might have said. But this morning he only made matters worse by adding that Opera North was "not taking sides". Why on earth not? Isn't it up to the commissioner to support its writer's integrity? Anyway, compared to the grim reality of sexualised youth as portrayed in Two Boys at ENO, the lyrics seem as inoffensive as it's possible to get. But maybe the tolerant arts-loving world is living in some sort of ivory tower.

STOP PRESS (7/7) All's well that ends well, and on with the show, according to the latest Opera North statement; ask not how or why, though we now know that "queer" and "here" were changed to "gay" and "away".

• What's coming up (rather than what's not) at Opera North
• Read Richard Mantle's statement in full - and the comments on it - here
• Read Lee Hall's account of the circumstances in The Guardian