Pardon Me Alan Turing

During the podcast titled "Pardon Me Alan Turing," recorded on March 1, 2018, at the Bats Theatre in Wellington, writer Stephen Lunt is interviewed by Gareth Watkins about Lunt's play. The play was being showcased in Wellington for the first time, having previously been performed in Auckland. Spanning across the decades from the 1940s to the 2010s, the play covers the life and times of the renowned mathematician and computer scientist, Alan Turing, focusing particularly on the lesser-known aspects of Turing's conviction for homosexual activities, which were illegal at the time, and the choice that they were faced with: prison or chemical castration.

Lunt discusses the motivations behind the play, citing that though Turing received a royal pardon, this pardon was not extended to other individuals convicted under the same outdated legal stipulations. The interviewer inquires about Turing's heritage, leading Lunt to expound on Turing's monumental contributions during World War II, their subsequent criminal charges due to their relationship with a man, and the tragic end to his life. The play aims to bring wider recognition to Turing's conviction and the campaign for extending pardons broadly.

The play weaves together four narratively distinct storylines—one focusing on Turing's life, including his family's treatment of them, another on Oscar Wilde and his life before conviction, a modern narrative about the fight for extending pardons, and a fictional purgatorial story imagining a meeting between Turing and Wilde. Lunt's usage of humor in the play serves dual purposes: engaging the audience and deepening the contemplation of serious themes.

The term "pardon" is interrogated for its implications of forgiveness for wrongdoing, a concept Lunt argues is inappropriate since the actions for which Turing and others were convicted should not have been criminal. Such a historical injustice still casts a long shadow over the rainbow community, with profound impacts on societal perceptions.

Coincidentally, the premier of the play around New Zealand was closely followed by the introduction of historic conviction legislation in the country, which added contemporary relevance and led to rewrites aligning with the legislative changes.

Audience responses have been impactful, with many expressing profound shock and emotional responses to the revelations about historic convictions and Turing’s legacy. Many who have lived with hidden pasts might now be reluctant to step forward and apply for their convictions to be overturned, despite the change in legal perception.

Lunt also discusses funding and the challenges of marketing the play, acknowledging the support from foundations catering to the rainbow community. The play's narrative, while directed towards a rainbow audience, holds universal appeal due to the ubiquitous nature of justice and rights.

This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.

Stephen Lunt

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