Director attacks hospitals’ NHS play ‘ban’

A veteran theatre director has hit out at hospitals for ‘banning’ a play about the NHS.

Max Stafford-Clark today branded health bosses “craven” for not showing This May Hurt a Bit.

The political comedy was written by Stella Feehily, wife of Mr Stafford-Clark who is former artistic director of the Royal Court Theatre.

However, both the Whittington NHS Trust and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust declined their offer to put on performances for staff and patients.

In an interview with the Standard, Mr Stafford-Clark claimed the two hospitals refused to put on the show because it contains references about the growing privatisation of the NHS.

He said: “It’s craven of them. I believe it’s a deliberate action because the play champions the NHS so vigorously.

“The Whittington mentioned the use of bad language but I think that’s just a smokescreen. I think there’s a ‘shit’ in the script but that’s hardly going to offend anyone.”

This week, the play began a six-week run at St James Theatre in the West End.

But Mr Stafford-Clark and his wife had wanted to perform it as a ‘thank you’ to NHS staff beforehand.

This includes doctors and nurses at the Whittington where he was treated.

The play was originally inspired by the veteran director’s fight for life. He suffered a stroke in 2006 and credits the NHS with saving his life. Mr Stafford-Clark has said This May Hurt a Bit was a rallying cry for those who believe in the NHS. Guy’s Hospital did host a performance for medics along with the House of Commons.

Lewisham Hospital was approached but it is understood they politely declined.

The chairman of the Whittington also wrote to Mr Stafford-Clark turn down his offer.

The Whittington said in a statement that the hospital was “not a theatre” and not the “most appropriate setting for a political comedy”.