The
UK and Ireland tour of a production of Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird has
been cancelled following an exclusivity claim by the producers of a Broadway
version, organisers said.
The
Irish tour - set to visit Dublin's Bord Gais Energy Theatre in May - and the UK
tour - set to visit locations including Birmingham, Newcastle and Aberdeen -
was announced last July.
However
in a statement, Jonathan Church Productions, Curve Theatre, Leicester and
Regent's Park Theatre said they were contacted by lawyers acting on behalf of
Atticus Limited Liability Company, formed by Scott Rudin, the producer of the
Broadway play.
They
said the group claimed worldwide exclusivity in the professional stage rights
to To Kill A Mockingbird.
The
statement added the UK and Ireland tour had "acted in good faith at all
times", but would face legal proceedings if it was not cancelled with immediate
effect.
Organisers
are "deeply saddened" at having to cancel the tour, the statement
said, and apologised to those who had bought tickets as well as "those
currently working to recreate the show which had been in rehearsals until
today".
It
added: "We are truly sorry for the inconvenience this cancellation will
cause and ask that ticket holders contact their original sales point to arrange
full refunds."
The
Broadway version of To Kill A Mockingbird was adapted for the stage by Aaron
Sorkin and opened in New York in December.
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