The Family Sex Show pulled from Bristol theatre after actors hit by ‘violent’ threats and abuse

A controversial sex education show that was due to run at a Bristol theatre in May has been cancelled after its creators were subjected to ‘unprecedented threats and abuse’.

The Family Sex Show, a ‘fun and silly’ theatre piece exploring sex and relationships aimed at children aged 5+, was set to open at the Factory Theatre on May 5.

But the piece was quickly hit by fierce criticism on social media, with TV personality Sonia Poulton and politician David Kurten wading in to share videos demanding the ‘appalling’ show be scrapped.

A petition calling for the show to be cancelled on citizengo.org also garnered nearly 40,000 signatures.

Many said they were ‘horrified’ over the show’s contents, which included adult nudity and performers singing and talking about their own experiences to do with gender, sexual pleasure and masturbation.

Now theatre company ThisEgg, who created the production to offer ‘safe and positive learning to children, young people and their guardians’ have announced the show will not run as planned in Bristol, Bath and Norwich.

The Arts Council England funded theatre company posted on Twitter: “The decision has been made by venues to cancel the tour of The Family Sex Show this Spring 2022.

“There will be performances for an invited audience at The Egg, Theatre Royal Bath ahead of subsequent public performances in the future.

“These public performances would have offered safe and positive learning to children, young people and guardians about rights, bodies, sex and relationships, advised by safeguarding and educational specialists.

“Audiences were given information about the content before booking, so that they could make an informed decision to watch the show.”

The Twitter thread added that the show had been cancelled due to ‘violent and illegal threats and abuse’ directed at the company from ‘a small group of people with extremist views’, along with venues such as the Factory Theatre that were planning to host the ‘transparent, consensual and legal’ show.

“We believe that what has happened is reflective of structural and societal attitudes towards Relationships and Sex Education as well as art, culture and who is allowed to create and what we are allowed to engage with in the UK,” the statement added.

“The creative team will spend the next two weeks finishing the show, ready for a time it might be able to meet a public. We also want to respond to the events of the last few weeks and how we move forward.”

BristolWorld has contacted Tobacco Factory Theatres and ThisEgg for comment.