Alan Amos threat to pull funding from Worcester Theatres after Andrew Lawrence cancelled

Councillor Alan Amos has accused "do-gooders" at Worcester Theatres of 'imposing censorship' after they axed comedian Andrew Lawrence's scheduled performance at Huntingdon Hall due to a string of hateful tweets in the summer.

He's warned any venue in receipt of council funding will be forced to return 'taxpayers' money' if they use it for their own 'political ends'.

However, the city council distanced itself from the comments saying decisions about shows were a matter for the theatres.

Oraganisers announced they would no longer be hosting a date on Lawrence's Pale Male and Stale Tour in July after he aimed a series of 'racist' digs at black football players following England's penalty exit in the 2020 Euros final.

Earlier this year, Worcester Theatres was allocated a £122,000 cash boost through the arts council as part of the government's multi-million pound culture recovery fund, supplementing an existing £110,000 annual grant from the council.

However, speaking at a full council meeting on Tuesday (November 30), Alan Amos warned the grant could be cancelled and the money repaid if it is used for 'political purposes'.

He said: "The great thing about English theatre is that there is no censorship so people are free to choose their own entertainment.

"Earlier this year, the nationally acclaimed comedian and satirist – Andrew Lawrence – was booked for a show which was abruptly cancelled at short notice even though the show due to be performed was exactly the same as that for which he had been booked.

"A tiny woke clique at the Swan Theatre/Huntingdon Hall thereby imposed censorship where none exists in law.

"Therefore, I sought confirmation from the Council that it would make it abundantly clear to anybody in receipt of Council money that they may not use public money for political purposes – which they did in this case – and that if they do, funding will be stopped immediately and it would have to be repaid.

"We cannot have little cliques of do-gooders taking public money and then mis-using it for their own political ends.

"They need to remember that it is this taxpayers’ money that is keeping the theatre in business in the first place. People want to be entertained, as they choose, so we need to keep politics out of it."

Despite Cllr Amos' warning, the city council insisted theatre directors have full autonomy over their scheduled acts.

A spokesperson said: "The programming of the Swan Theatre and Huntingdon Hall is entirely a matter for Worcester Theatres."

Lawrence caused huge controversy this summer after aiming racially fuelled criticism at black players in the immediate wake of England's Euros exit. 

Tweeting after the match, the 41-year-old said: "All I'm saying is, the white guys scored."

Lawrence, who has previously featured on the BBC, later added to his original tweet, saying: "I can see that this has offended lots of people, and I'm sorry black guys are bad at penalties."

Andrew Lawrence tweets

In one comment referring to anti-poverty campaigner and Manchester United and England footballer Marcus Rashford, he said he'd 'rather Rashford practised his penalties and the kids had gone hungry'.

The comedian's outbursts attracted a huge backlash on social media, with his previous account subsequently deleted.

Lawrence was also dropped by RBM Comedy - which represents high-profile stars including Miles Jupp and Hugh Dennis.

Following Cllr Amos' comments, a spokesperson for Worcester Theatres said: "Worcester Theatres was one of many venues, along with his agent, who chose to cancel Andrew Lawrence from our programme after he made a racist remark.

"We support an audience's right to receive a balanced and mixed programme without censorship, however the Board, Management and staff of Worcester Theatre Charitable Trust do not support hate speech of any kind and will not be an organisation associated with this now or in the future."