Despite fears of negative reactions - especially in the wake of the web release of Holland's Geert Wilders' film Fitna - a German theatre went ahead with its stage adaptation of Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses last night, with no sign of trouble after authorities promised security precautions.
The Hans-Otto Theatre in Potsdam said its version, which has 12 actors and ran for nearly four hours, is the first theatrical presentation of the novel. The theatre director Uwe Eric Laufenberg had invited Rushdie to the premiere, but it's not yet confirmed as to whether he attended. Laufenberg should be applauded, especially for making this crucial point:
"I think it is time for the Muslim world to say exactly what it finds so provocative about this book - simply to say, 'this book insults us', is no longer enough at some point."
It's impossible to imagine a prominent British director sticking his neck out in this way. The British theatre sees itself as head and shoulders above the rest of the world, and yet for the most part it remains shamefully silent on this issue, or worse, backs down in the face of threats when it has tentatively put its toe in the water.
