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Regina Public Schools says teachers pulled students from a Globe Theatre performance after deciding the production included mature content beyond what they expected.
The division said students attended a student matinee of Little Red Warrior and His Lawyer, which it said had been presented as a 14-plus production that aligned with several curriculum areas.
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“We were informed that the play was rated as 14+, but as the production proceeded, the teachers felt it reached levels of maturity beyond what was disclosed,” the division said in a statement.
“Our educators exercised their professional judgment and made the decision to remove their classes from the theatre. The division relies on teachers using their professional judgment and we fully support the decision they made in this instance.”
The division said the performance had been described as a “satirical farce combined with a romantic comedy.”
Regina Public Schools said it has had a strong working relationship with the Globe Theatre for many years, but has since raised concerns about what it called a discrepancy in the show’s rating.
“Regina Public Schools’ priority is to our students, and this division would never intentionally expose students to inappropriate content,” the statement said.
In a statement of its own, the Globe Theatre defended the production and said it stands by its programming choices.
The theatre said concerns about the show should be directed at the Globe, not the performers.
“The Globe Theatre is responsible for all programming choices. Not the performers contracted to do their jobs,” the theatre said.
“The online hate and rhetoric that the artists are now facing is rooted in transphobia and homophobia. We have zero tolerance for hate and discrimination, particularly when targeted at marginalized community members.”
The Globe described Little Red Warrior and His Lawyer as a subversive “trickster” comedy about land-back politics, with humour as a central storytelling tool.
The play was written by Governor General’s Award-winning playwright Kevin Loring, who is the artistic director of Indigenous Theatre at Canada’s National Arts Centre.
The Globe said content warnings were available online, stating that the production was recommended for people 14 and older due to language and sexual content.
The theatre also said schools were called directly by a staff member to share warnings about explicit language and sexual content. According to the Globe, schools were offered the chance to read the script in advance and were told copies were available for review.
“All attending schools confirmed their students would be Grade 10 or higher,” the Globe said.
The theatre said Campbell Collegiate had read the play after booking and later cancelled tickets for Grade 9 students based on the content.
The Globe also said a manager advised teachers from one school sitting closest to the stage that a performer would be pole-dancing during the show, and that schools were told to use discretion when seating students near that section of the theatre.
“The Globe Theatre understands that this production may make someone uncomfortable; art can challenge,” the theatre said.
“It can also delight, inform, provoke thought, test assumptions, entertain, and create meaningful conversation.”
The Globe said not every piece of art will resonate with every audience member, but said the play used satire to explore themes of cultural history.
The theatre said it would continue working to ensure schools understand productions before attending student matinees. It also said it would require signed waivers from principals of schools attending future matinees.
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