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| British theatre producer says gay Uganda play 'was supposed to be funny' | British theatre producer says gay Uganda play 'was supposed to be funny' |
| (6 months later) | |
| A British theatre producer due in a Ugandan court for staging a play about homosexuality has said the show was meant to be funny, not political. | A British theatre producer due in a Ugandan court for staging a play about homosexuality has said the show was meant to be funny, not political. |
| David Cecil, 34, faces two years in jail over a production of The River and the Mountain, a comedy drama about a gay businessman killed by his employees. | David Cecil, 34, faces two years in jail over a production of The River and the Mountain, a comedy drama about a gay businessman killed by his employees. |
| Cecil, who spent four days in prison last month, is charged with "disobeying lawful orders" from the regulatory Uganda media council. He said that despite Uganda's reputation for homophobia, his arrest had come as a shock. | Cecil, who spent four days in prison last month, is charged with "disobeying lawful orders" from the regulatory Uganda media council. He said that despite Uganda's reputation for homophobia, his arrest had come as a shock. |
| "We had minor problems – criticism, perhaps abuse, but nothing on this scale," he said. "We were warned, but since the play is not politically motivated, nor does it in any way promote homosexuality or criticise the government, we were not remotely worried. | "We had minor problems – criticism, perhaps abuse, but nothing on this scale," he said. "We were warned, but since the play is not politically motivated, nor does it in any way promote homosexuality or criticise the government, we were not remotely worried. |
| "Anyone who saw the play – locals, expats, academics, even clergy – was deeply shocked at my arrest. It is a comedy drama, not an advocacy piece." | "Anyone who saw the play – locals, expats, academics, even clergy – was deeply shocked at my arrest. It is a comedy drama, not an advocacy piece." |
| Cecil, who has lived in Uganda for two years, described his brief detention as "relaxing, social and boring". "I hope everyone realises that this is a storm in a teacup and shuts up about it," he said. "Jail was not too bad, but two years would be annoying." | Cecil, who has lived in Uganda for two years, described his brief detention as "relaxing, social and boring". "I hope everyone realises that this is a storm in a teacup and shuts up about it," he said. "Jail was not too bad, but two years would be annoying." |
| A petition calling for the charges against Cecil to be dropped has been signed by more than 2,500 people, including Mike Leigh, Stephen Fry, Sandi Toksvig and Simon Callow. The petition was organised by Index on Censorship and David Lan, the artistic director of the Young Vic. | A petition calling for the charges against Cecil to be dropped has been signed by more than 2,500 people, including Mike Leigh, Stephen Fry, Sandi Toksvig and Simon Callow. The petition was organised by Index on Censorship and David Lan, the artistic director of the Young Vic. |
| Cecil said: "It's amusing and gratifying to have celebs making statements that I should be freed. David Lan is a good man and the intentions behind this petition are fair enough. | Cecil said: "It's amusing and gratifying to have celebs making statements that I should be freed. David Lan is a good man and the intentions behind this petition are fair enough. |
| "However, I think it is a mistake for Europeans to be perceived as putting pressure on an African government. Colonialism is not such a distant memory." | "However, I think it is a mistake for Europeans to be perceived as putting pressure on an African government. Colonialism is not such a distant memory." |
| He reassured members of his cast and crew that he had not given up hope, saying: "Some of them were nervous, but since I'm being scapegoated, I told them they should not have much to worry about. It would be great to take the show on a regional tour, but obviously we need to sort out the legal mess first." | He reassured members of his cast and crew that he had not given up hope, saying: "Some of them were nervous, but since I'm being scapegoated, I told them they should not have much to worry about. It would be great to take the show on a regional tour, but obviously we need to sort out the legal mess first." |
| Uganda has been criticised for introducing an anti-homosexuality bill to parliament which proposes severe penalties, including death, for those found having same-sex relationships. | Uganda has been criticised for introducing an anti-homosexuality bill to parliament which proposes severe penalties, including death, for those found having same-sex relationships. |
| The bill has not been voted on yet. In January 2011 the gay activist David Kato was murdered shortly after a newspaper published images of him and other gay Ugandans under the headline: "Hang them". | The bill has not been voted on yet. In January 2011 the gay activist David Kato was murdered shortly after a newspaper published images of him and other gay Ugandans under the headline: "Hang them". |
| The play's Ugandan director, Angella Emurwon, said Cecil's arrest was unbelievable and left his colleagues feeling disturbed and afraid. "A lot of people say to me: 'You should have expected this, how could you not have known this would happen?' But truthfully I really did not expect this," she said. | The play's Ugandan director, Angella Emurwon, said Cecil's arrest was unbelievable and left his colleagues feeling disturbed and afraid. "A lot of people say to me: 'You should have expected this, how could you not have known this would happen?' But truthfully I really did not expect this," she said. |
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