Sikh protest theatre risks new row

A theatre which became the focus of angry demonstrations by Sikhs is to court controversy again by staging a drama about Muslim brothels.

The play, Bells, by Anglo-Pakistani playwright Yasmin Whittaker Khan, shows how Muslim girls find themselves trapped, and exposes the hypocrisy of otherwise religious men who visit them.

The play is set in a British "mujra", or courtesan house, and features "non-graphic" sex scenes.

It opens on Wednesday at the Birmingham Rep Theatre, which shortly before Christmas was besieged by Sikhs angry about a play depicting rape and murder in a temple.

The theatre became a battleground after Behzti - Punjabi for "dishonour" - opened.

Demonstrators stormed the venue, throwing missiles and breaking windows. Behzti was cancelled and its female playwright, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, went into hiding after receiving death threats.

Whittaker Khan said of Bells: "The play is provocative. I don't mind if there are peaceful protests, although I can't see why there should be."

The play is to go on a national tour after being staged in Birmingham.