Birmingham Rep cancels To Kill A Mockingbird show over legal row

Birmingham REP theatre

A production of Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird, due to be staged at the Birmingham Rep next month, has been cancelled due to a legal row.

Jonathan Church Productions, Curve Theatre, Leicester and Regent’s Park Theatre were due to bring the show to stages across the country as part of a UK and Ireland tour but have been forced to cancel following an exclusivity claim brought by the producers of the Broadway production.

The Christopher Sergel adaptation of the novel was licensed to Jonathan Church Productions by Dramatic Publishing Company but lawyers acting for Atticus Limited Liability Company, the company formed by producer Scott Rudin for the current Broadway production of To Kill A Mockingbird, are claiming worldwide exclusivity in the professional stage rights to To Kill a
Mockingbird.

The production due to take place at Birmingham was a version which has already been seen at theatres throughout the UK since 2011.

Birmingham Rep said that customers who have tickets to see the show between February 25 and March 2 will be contacted by box office to arrange an exchange to another show or a full refund.

A spokesman for Jonathan Church Productions, Curve and Regent’s Park Theatre said: “It appears there may be a difference of opinion as to exactly what rights were originally conferred to Dramatic Publishing Company in 1969 by the Harper Lee Estate.

“Nevertheless, despite those involved in the UK tour having acted in good faith at all times, Atticus Limited Liability Company made it clear that they would commence legal proceedings against the tour’s producer, originating theatre and all venues where it was due to be presented if the tour were not cancelled with immediate effect.”

They added: “Atticus Limited Liability Company were unwilling to consider any compromises which were proposed to resolve the situation without lengthy and costly legal action.”

Jonathan Church Productions, Curve and Regent’s Park Theatre said they are “deeply saddened” to cancel the show.

“We would like to thank all those who have already purchased tickets, and those currently working to recreate the show which had been in rehearsals until today.

“We are truly sorry for the inconvenience this cancellation will cause and ask that ticketholders contact their original sales point to arrange full refunds.”

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