Insult to artistes and their audience

11:48am Thursday 8th May 2008

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The Lady Boys of Bangkok cabaret show has become a mainstay of the festival season in Brighton and Hove. Yet in the weekend edition of The Argus, columnist Jean Calder controversially called for the show to be banned in Brighton.

Phillp Gandey, director and creator of the show, pulls no punches as he hits back.

Jean Calder has attacked a company of professional Thai national entertainers by describing them as "freaks" and "curiosities" and comparing them to "circus animals".

Astoundingly, this is written by someone who has never set foot in the Sabai Pavilion, let alone seen the show.

Had she done so she would not be bandying with great frequency words such as "titillation", "shocked excitement" and the "delectation of heterosexual men".

The audience that Ms Calder identifies as being heterosexual males is in fact 80% women.

They come for an evening of sheer entertainment in a welcoming and unthreatening environment.

Their total enjoyment is obvious from their eagerness to participate whenever possible, and the evening frequently concludes with a standing ovation for the performers.

This is a far cry from her assertion that "their appeal is not based upon artistic ability".

Ms Calder makes not only an unwarranted attack on the company of artistes but also questions the sexual motives of the thousands of Brightonians who each year enjoy their night out at The Lady Boys of Bangkok.

Let's have clear facts.

The Lady Boys of Bangkok is not freak show, a sex show, a drag act or a Carry On movie.

The artistes are not exploited - they are all educated professional performers who chose to be trained in either dance or stage performance.

The comparisons with lap-dancers and pole-dancers is without foundation and, therefore, misleading.

The show is a lavishly dressed Las Vegas-style cabaret performed by 16 of the world's most beautiful showgirls - who just happen to be men.

It is a lovingly created programme of choreographed production numbers includes disco hits, songs from West End musicals, standards and musical comedy pastiches.

The heart of the show is the poignantly moving My Way during which the performer makes the transition on stage from female to male.

The audience, without fail, instantly relate to the words, sentiment and artistry by rising to their feet in standing ovation.

In questioning the validity of Lady Boys as professional artistes Ms Calder has insulted not only the artistes - currently on their tenth anniversary tour of the UK - but also a rich part of Thai culture.

Regarding the use of council space, she gives the impression that the Sabai Pavilion is squatting on council ground and that we are being subsidised by the local rate payers.

Not so - we pay a significant fee to the council for the privilege of being on our site and make a substantial financial contribution to local businesses for a wide range of services, goods and supplies, including all our refreshment and catering requirements as well as the accommodation of our staff and artistes.

I have personally invested years of my life in creating this unique production working with the artistes both in Bangkok and here in the UK.

I am extremely proud of this show, which appeals to such a wide and open-minded audience.

I am proud to be associated with such a talented, dedicated and hardworking company of professional entertainers whom I regard as personal friends.

It may not be your kind of show Ms Calder but we, and Saturday's audiences, are astounded that you have assumed the right to attempt to deprive Brightonians of the right to decide for themselves what entertainment they choose to support.

It is also an attempt to deprive consenting adults of the right to express their own sexuality by way of a professional theatrical performance.

I was so angry and upset by what I regard as the attack on my personal integrity that for the first time I made a curtain speech on Saturday night to put our side of the story.

I am delighted that the audiences were in complete support.

Read Brighton Fringe Festival communications manager Holly Payton's blog response to Jean Calder's article here.

What do you think? Leave your comments below.