Nationwide Jerry Springer Opera tour in jeopardy amid Christian protests

London, UK – A nationwide tour of the controversial BBC TV program, Jerry Springer The Opera, a satirical theatrical performance based on the popular American TV program “Jerry Springer,” that features blasphemous scenes in its second half of Jesus Christ, God the Father, Mary, Adam, Eve and Satan all appearing in hell, is in jeopardy with a big investor considering pulling out because of threats by a militant Christian group. The backer, who was to have provided 40% of the funding for the tour, was targeted by Christian Voice, an evangelical group that has condemned the musical – based on the American television show – as “filthy and blasphemous.”

Avalon, the show’s production company, is now trying to line up additional funding in case the investor, who has not been named, withdraws.

Jon Thoday, the producer, said he was determined the tour would go ahead and criticized the “bullying techniques” of Christian Voice. “There has always been controversy in theatre but I have never known this kind of thing to actually have such an effect,” he said.