BC Theatre Cancels Play Set in Israel Over Concerns of Raising Tensions in Community

People wave Palestinian flags while marching after a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Vancouver on Oct. 19, 2023. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

A theatre in British Columbia has cancelled the presentation of a play set in Israel following a petition over its content.

The Belfry Theatre in Victoria issued a statement on Jan. 2, saying it would not be presenting “The Runner” at the SPARK Festival in March.

“We believe that presenting The Runner at this particular time does not ensure the well-being of all segments of our community,” the statement said. “Given the current conflict in the Middle East, this is not the time for a play which may further tensions among our community.”

The one-person show focuses on an Israeli emergency response volunteer who decides to aid an injured Palestinian girl rather than save an injured Israeli soldier.

The Belfry Theatre opted about a year ago to bring the play to Victoria, the statement said.

However, a petition was started online on Dec. 19, 2023, to remove the play from the lineup. As of Jan. 4, the petition had 1,351 signatures.

“It is unacceptable that this story is being told while Palestinians are being killed and displaced by the Israeli Defense Forces in plain sight for the world to see,” the petition organizers said.

A counter-petition was started on Dec. 23, 2023, to keep the play in the theatre’s lineup.

“Our hearts break for the suffering of both the Israeli and Palestinian people, and we dispute the over-simplified narrative in the cancellation petition that the Israelis are oppressors and the Palestinians are the oppressed,” the counter-petition organizers wrote.

“This award-winning show was created over recent years in both Israel and Canada and had a celebrated premiere at Theatre Passe Muraille in Toronto. Its call to recognize the humanity of all peoples in the face of conflicting narratives of righteousness is one that art can explore with nuance.”

As of Jan. 4, the counter-petition had 2,347 signatures.

The theatre said it had not been an easy decision.

“This has not been an easy decision, and we are grateful to our community for sharing various perspectives which added to our understanding,” it said in its statement.

Rise in Pro-Palestinian Protests

The theatre’s decision comes as ongoing pro-Palestinian protests continue in various parts of the country.

In Toronto, police shut down a Highway 401 overpass due to safety concerns about a protest on Jan. 1.

“Police are on scene to enforce this in order to keep demonstrators, counter-demonstrators, and passing traffic safe,” the Toronto Police Service (TPS) posted on X, formerly Twitter, adding there would be no access to Avenue Road.

Over the weekend, police had to shut down the same overpass for a similar pro-Palestinian protest that included a prayer session just before noon on Dec. 30, 2023.

Several politicians expressed concern that the area was being targeted because of the number of Jews in the neighbourhood.

Liberal MP and former minister of public safety Marco Mendicino, whose riding includes the area, shared a video on Dec. 31, 2023, where protestors called the neighbourhood a “Zionist-infested area,” something Mr. Mendicino said was “unacceptable.”

“Those who call the Avenue Rd & 401 a ‘Zionist Infested Area’ betray their clearly Antisemitic intent to incite hatred towards a Jewish neighbourhood,” Mr. Mendicino wrote. “This is unacceptable.”

Ontario’s solicitor general, Michael Karzner, also expressed concern about the targeting of a Jewish neighbourhood.

“Everyone has the right to be part of the fabric of Ontario. The Jewish community should not be subject to acts of fear,” wrote the Conservative MPP in a post on X earlier on the same day.

In November, a Jewish high school received a bomb threat, which forced the evacuation of the school, and a nearby synagogue and daycare.

In October, a Toronto restaurant was targeted by a group of pro-Palestinian protesters, calling for a boycott of the business, with some in the crowd calling it a “Zionist cafe.”

TPS issued a press release on Dec. 19, 2023, that said among the “hate crimes” reported in the city between Oct. 7 and Dec. 17, 2023, 53 percent were anti-Semitic.