‘Coraline’ musical scrapped amid Neil Gaiman sexual assault allegations
The show's producers said "it would be impossible to continue in the context of the allegations against" the novel's author
The U.K. musical production of Coraline that was scheduled to premiere in April has been canceled following allegations of sexual assault against the novel’s author Neil Gaiman.
In a joint statement posted on Wednesday, the co-production partners Leeds Playhouse, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Birmingham Rep, and Home Manchester read: “We have decided our production of Coraline – A Musical will not proceed. After careful consideration, we feel it would be impossible to continue in the context of the allegations against its original author.” The production partners noted that tickets holders were contacted via email. The show was slated to run from April 11 to May 11 before heading to Edinburgh, Birmingham, and Manchester.
Gaiman’s ghoulish tale about a brave 11-year-old girl who steps through a magical portal and meets an eerie, button-eyed version of her parents published in 2002 and won several accolades including that year’s Bram Stoker Award for Best Work for Young Readers and 2003’s Hugo Award for Best Novella and Nebula Award for Best Novella.
The story gained massive popularity following a stop-motion animation film by Henry Selick, and was later adapted as a musical by the playwright Zinnie Harris and the composer Louis Barabbas, and was set to be helmed by Leeds Playhouse’s Artistic Director James Brining.
Gaiman has denied allegations of sexual assault and abuse made by multiple women and reported in a New York magazine story earlier this month. The publication reviewed texts and emails between the women and friends, as well as messages sent between Gaiman and the women. The NY Mag story included alleged abusive behavior by Gaiman toward women who claim he forced them to perform degrading acts.
Following the allegations that surfaced last summer, several movie and television productions based on Gaiman’s work have been suspended. Last week, comic book publishers Dark Horse announced that it canceled plans to publish the final issue of Gaiman’s Anansi Boys.