The producer of a controversial play about JK Rowling’s trans views has told Sky News that members of the production have experienced “death threats” – with his own mother targeted by online trolls amid criticism of the show.
TERF is playing at Edinburgh Festival Fringe and imagines the lead stars of the Harry Potter film franchise staging an “intervention” for the author over her gender-critical beliefs.
TERF, an acronym for trans-exclusionary radical feminist, is often used as a slur in the gender debate.
Many of those who have not yet seen the play believe it is a “hit piece” against Rowling and have unleashed their anger online in response to negative media coverage.
The show’s producer, Barry Church-Woods, told Sky News there has been a lot of “faux outrage” aimed at the production.
He said: “It’s been a little bit heartbreaking, to be honest. Lots of people have made assumptions on this show because it’s called TERF.
“We’ve experienced death threats. My mother has been targeted on social media.”
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Mr Church-Woods said the word TERF has become an insult “due to the behaviours of some of that community”.
He added: “There are extremes on both sides of this debate, obviously, but some of the really abhorrent behaviour has made that word much more powerful than it should be because there’s an association.”
The play touches on Rowling’s rise to fame alongside how she has spoken in the past about being a domestic abuse and sexual assault survivor.
Mr Church-Woods explained that the title of the play is “no different” from an album taking its title from a lyric or song.
He said: “It references a moment in time when JK Rowling first tweeted her gender-critical beliefs. That phrase, a much more foul version of that phrase, trended globally.
“So, there’s a moment in the show when that happens and that’s reflected. And that’s where it took its title from originally.”
Show is highly anticipated
Despite the negativity, TERF is one of the most talked about and anticipated shows appearing at the Fringe.
Mr Church-Woods said: “Honestly, it’s kind of terrifying because it stops the show just being a Fringe show.
“There’s a lot of pressure to deliver a world-class show in a way that you would maybe use the Fringe to develop your work and then finesse it and then turn it into your Fleabag or whatever.
“But it feels great. It’s a real privilege. I mean, we are part of a festival that there’s 3,500 shows, so the fact that people know who are and are talking about it is something I will never complain about.”
Protest threat
TERF was forced to move venues due to the threat of protests.
The Assembly Rooms stepped up to host the play and has the infrastructure in place to support the security and staffing needed to help keep the cast and crew safe.
Mr Church-Woods said: “We feel like there won’t be any incidents, but certainly we’ve got an eye on it.”
The producer said the script was passed on to Rowling’s team but it is understood she has not read it personally. She has also been invited to see the show.
Mr Church-Woods said: “It’s a really balanced piece, I think. Probably much fairer to JK Rowling than my politics would have.”
As a producer, he would “love” Rowling to attend the show to boost publicity, but personally, he said: “I don’t particularly want to meet her.”
“But I actually genuinely think, from what I’ve seen in her interviews, I think she’s quite funny and she’s quite dry and I think she might actually enjoy this play.”
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‘Show could move the needle on a topic’
American actress Laura Kay Bailey plays the lead role as Rowling.
On being asked how she feels to be part of one of the most talked about shows at the Fringe, she said: “It’s really exciting to be part of a show that could potentially move the needle on a topic.
“The cast and the crew are all wonderful to work with and we’re having fun with it.”
On playing Rowling, she said there’s a “weight there” that you may not get while taking on the role of a fictional character.
She said: “I think it’s always a challenge as an actor to play a real person. So, I definitely do a lot of extra work on voice, accents, all those things. You want to get it right.
“At the same time, it’s not really about doing an impersonation. It’s about just kind of capturing their essence so that the audience can believe that you are that person.”
Message to potential critics
Ms Bailey is urging potential critics to watch the show before forming an opinion.
She said: “I don’t see it as a hit piece. I think the writer, Josh [Joshua Kaplan], does a good job of trying to be balanced and sort of show the evolution of her as a public figure and as a person and the development of some of her beliefs.
“So, I think people should come see it and decide for themselves.”
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Australian actress Trelawny Kean plays Emma Watson, who was Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movies.
Ms Kean said the buzz surrounding the play was a “bit intimidating” but also “pretty exciting”.
When asked if she’s concerned about protesters targeting the show, she said: “If it happens, it happens.
“I think there’s so much support around us, it’s not something that I’m really that concerned about. We feel pretty safe.”
Responding to accusations that TERF is a “hit piece” against Rowling, Ms Kean said instead that the show is “surprising”.
She added: “I think the show is more a conversation about a very, very divisive topic, particularly in this country at the moment, using the guise of these very famous people as a backdrop as a way to have this conversation in a wider environment.”
When asked if she would like Hollywood star Watson to watch her performance, Ms Kean laughed: “No, if someone was playing me in a play, I’d be absolutely mortified.”
JK Rowling’s representatives have told Sky News she “is not commenting on the play”.
