[Red Moon]

Galloway set for public grilling

12 January 2006

CAMBRIDGE Arts Theatre bosses have defended their decision to host an evening with outspoken left-wing MP George Galloway when he leaves the Big Brother house.
Mr Galloway is no stranger to controversy, having said that Tony Blair has "blood on his hands" over the Iraq war, and holding meetings with Saddam Hussein during his regime in Iraq.

But since he entered the Channel 4 television show along with a host of B-list celebrities, including troubled entertainer Michael Barrymore, plastic surgery fanatic Pete Burns and cross-dressing basketball player Dennis Rodman, Galloway has come under increased fire.

Other MPs and his local constituents claim he has abandoned his political duties to take part in a cheap reality TV show.

If he manages to win over the public on the show, ticket sales are likely to soar for his one-man show at the Arts Theatre on February 12, where he will be answering questions from the audience.

But at present the theatre's marketing manager Kate Flannery says the box office has not noticed any increase in sales because of the TV show.

"We have been holding these audiences with various people who are not usually thought of as entertainers for some time and they seem to be very popular - we had Alistair Campbell last year," she said.

"It seems to provoke a lot of debate. It is not a performance in the normal sense. It's difficult to know whether if he gets evicted that will affect ticket sales.

"What will be quite good from our point of view is it may attract a difference audience in. Young people watch Big Brother and if him being here encourages some younger people to come to the theatre then that would be great.

"A lot of them feel they don't belong in this environment but this might encourage them to think differently."

Mr Galloway is one of the celebrities who has been nominated for eviction this week and will face a public vote to see if he gets the boot.

Other housemates up for eviction are 80s singer Pete Burns and glamour model Jodie Marsh.

Even before Mr Galloway's entry into the Big Brother house, the event at the Arts Theatre was causing controversy in the city.

Some theatre-goers were shocked that such a left-wing firebrand had been booked to speak - Matthew Kramer, a professor in political philosophy and Director of Law at Churchill College, wrote to the Arts Theatre to complain.

In his letter - which was printed in the News - he wrote: "I have heretofore presumed the Arts Theatre exists for the promotion of the performing arts. I cannot fathom why on February 12 it is to be put to the very different purpose of propagating noxious political views."

Mrs Flannery responded: "The point of running these audiences is it gives people the opportunity to speak to these people who they wouldn't normally come into contact with.

"I don't think it's the theatre's policy to comment on anybody else's political views.
Obviously some people will be strongly opposed to him and other people will feel the other way, but that's just the nature of political debate."

Source: Cambridge Evening News