ANI
London, Feb 28: A school in Britain that staged a gay version of Romeo and Juliet – called Romeo and Julian – has been accused of “mind-blowing” political correctness.
The play, which was performed by teenagers at a school in London to coincide with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) History Month, has caused a stir in parliament. Drama teacher Jo Letson reworked Shakespeare’s play to challenge ‘homophobia and homophobic bullying’.
Calling for a debate on political correctness during questions on upcoming Commons business, Tory MP Philip Davies said, “This is mind-blowing. Anyone with an ounce of sense would want their children to be learning Romeo and Juliet rather than Romeo and Julian.”
The MP added: “Romeo and Juliet is one of the greatest works ever written. It is a play that every child should study. It is very worrying that this literary masterpiece is being used for such a politically-correct purpose.”
However, Commons leader Harriet Harman rebuked him, saying, “I seem to remember that in Shakespearean times, boys would play girls and girls would play boys and the whole point was trying work out which was which.”