The Stage

BBC pulls ‘unsuitable’ scenes from Sadler’s Wells broadcast

Published Friday 27 November 2009 at 14:18 by Matthew Hemley

The BBC has pulled scenes from a forthcoming broadcast of a recent Sadler’s Wells show called In the Spirit of Diaghilev, after it emerged they would be unsuitable for a pre-watershed audience.

A scene from Eternal Damnation to Sancho and Sanchez by Javier De Frutos from The Spirit Of Diaghilev at Sadler's Wells in October Photo: Tristram Kenton

Eternal Damnation to Sancho and Sanchez by Javier de Frutos was part of four works created for the Sadler’s Wells show, which was staged in October to celebrate the work of the Ballets Russes, which was formed in 1909 by Sergei Diaghilev.

The show also featured works by Russell Maliphant, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Wayne McGregor, with de Frutos’ work depicting a pope abusing an altar boy and a pregnant nun.

A spokesman for the BBC said de Frutos’ section of the show would be removed from the BBC4 broadcast next month and added: “When we announced we were showing it, at the time we weren’t fully aware of the details of the ballet and had every intention of showing all four acts. Basically, the material isn’t suitable for a pre-watershed broadcast.”

The remaining three works will be shown on December 18, as planned.