‘October 7’ Play Cancellation Sign of the Antisemitic Times?
Phelim McAleer, Anne McElhinney decry yet another attack on the arts
It’s hard to imagine a more powerful and important play than “October 7.”
The production team of Phelim McAleer and Anne McElhinney let the terror attack’s survivors speak via a powerful stage production. The duo used “verbatim theater” – leveraging actual documents and testimony to bring stories to life – to fuel “October 7.”
Previously, the creators had to beef up security to ensure the safety of cast and crew during its New York City run two years ago. In January, “October 7” hit the Trump Kennedy Center, something that didn’t happen before President Donald Trump changed leadership at the venue.
Now, the play has hit another roadblock.
The National Concert Hall in Ireland cancelled “October 7,” a production that doubled as a fundraiser for Magen David Adom (MDA). Israel’s national emergency medical service.
MDA is responsible for teaching first aid and emergency medicine, provides professional services including blood services, and engages in humanitarian activities for the community and around the world.
The production was previously cancelled and, later reinstated. Now, the show won’t go on as planned on May 11. The reasons will sound familiar to those paying attention to the global debate on the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
Irish pro-Palestinian groups had urged their followers to protest the reinstatement, alleging that Magen David Adom was “complicit in genocide.”
“This is anti-Semitic censorship, plain and simple — and it is disgusting,” the duo said in an email blast about the cancellation.
McAleer and McElhinney aren’t giving up. They’ve set up a fundraising campaign to ensure “October 7” plays at another Dublin-area venue.
The cancellation is part of a wave of antisemitic attacks on the arts. Jewish comedians, musicians and authors have faced a steady stream of cancellations for either supporting Israel or their faith.
The media has been slow to cover these cancellations. Few have connected the essential dots regarding the cultural attacks on Jewish artists.
The latest cancellation, once again, is getting very little media attention.