AI Chat Search Browse Media On This Day Map Quotations Timeline Research Free Datasets Remembered About Contact
☶ Go up a page

Censorship By Tvnz Upsets Playwright (Press, 20 August 1982)

This is a Generative AI summary of this newspaper article. It may contain errors or omissions. Please note that the language in the summary is reflective of the original article and the societal attitudes of the time in which it was written.

Summary: Censorship By Tvnz Upsets Playwright (Press, 20 August 1982)

Wellington reporter John Mortimer, a playwright from London, expressed his disappointment after a scene from his play "A Voyage Round My Father" was cut during its recent airing on Television New Zealand. In an open letter, Mortimer reacted to comments made by Peter Fabian, the head of programme standards, who stated that the omitted scene “added nothing to the audience's understanding.” Mortimer argued that the scene was crucial as it depicted the blind father’s inability to see the complexities of life, particularly the unexpected human interactions within a rural landscape, symbolised by two women kissing. Mortimer stressed that the father's ignorance to this aspect of the world is pivotal to the narrative, as it informs the last line of the first act, which reflects on the “monstrous persistence of nature.” He claimed that by censoring the scene, Television New Zealand placed its audiences in a position akin to that of the blind father, missing key insights into the story. The playwright noted that his play had enjoyed a successful run in London for two years, has been performed in educational institutions, and was previously aired on British television without any censorship issues. He expressed sorrow that his work, which had received such positive acclaim during his time in New Zealand, was being showcased in a “pointlessly altered version.” Peter Fabian responded, acknowledging Mortimer's concerns but also highlighting the regulatory context in which the censorship occurred. He referenced a section of the Broadcasting Act regarding taste and decency and mentioned that around the same time as the decision to censor Mortimer's play, a complaint had been upheld related to a homosexual scene in another programme. Fabian clarified that while his department could offer recommendations on content, it was ultimately up to the director-general of Television New Zealand to make the final calls, which he believed resulted in the cut being made, even though it may have detracted from a notable line in the play without impacting the overall plot.

Important Information

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

Creative Commons Licence The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand

Publish Date:20th August 1982
URL:https://www.pridenz.com/paperspast_chp19820820_2_86_1.html