Dolly Parton Musical Halted After Homophobic Abuse from Audience.
A Dolly Parton-themed musical was abruptly suspended after the entire cast walked off the stage in protest of homophobic abuse directed at one of the characters. The incident occurred during a performance of Here You Come Again at the Opera House in Manchester, where a woman was reportedly "disgusted" by the portrayal of a gay character. This followed a similar incident in London, where another audience member was ejected for shouting homophobic slurs.
Stevie Webb, an actor in the production, shared details of the troubling pattern of homophobic abuse that the cast has faced during their performances. Webb explained in a TikTok video that audience members regularly shout slurs or cause disruptions, forcing staff to intervene and eject offenders. In the Manchester show, the situation escalated when a woman expressed her disgust at a gay character, prompting a heated confrontation between the audience members. The incident resulted in a 15-20 minute delay.
"This is happening nearly every single week, and it just blows my mind," Webb said. "It's crazy because this is a Dolly Parton musical." He went on to recall a similar episode in London, where a man angrily shouted homophobic slurs, expressing that he only came to the show to see Dolly Parton and did not want to see a gay character on stage.
Webb's comments highlighted the contrast between the inclusive environment that Dolly Parton has long advocated for and the intolerance some audience members continue to express. Parton has been a long-time supporter of LGBT rights and publicly endorsed gay marriage in 2014.
A performance of Here You Come Again: The Dolly Parton Musical was halted in Manchester due to homophobic abuse.
Addressing the offensive remarks, Webb emphasized the absurdity of such reactions, pointing out that a Dolly Parton musical inherently reflects themes of acceptance and inclusivity. He expressed his frustration with people who seem unable to accept the presence of gay characters in the production. "It's just wild," Webb said, noting how many people he encountered on the tour seemed unable to accept a gay character, which he found puzzling.
Webb also explained how traveling the country for performances opened his eyes to the pervasive homophobia that still exists in certain areas. "It's like if I had that reaction to the colour blue because it exists. It's not going anywhere, but I could not escape it. But no, they don’t come to that realisation. It is amazing," he said, reflecting on the absurdity of people reacting negatively to the portrayal of LGBTQ characters in art and entertainment.
The musical, directed by Gabriel Barre, tells the story of a devoted Dolly Parton fan who finds solace in his fantasy version of the international icon during difficult times. Webb's character, a gay man, is integral to the story, which explores themes of identity and acceptance, making the homophobic disruptions particularly jarring.
ATG Entertainment, which operates the Manchester Opera House, has yet to comment on the recent incidents.
