Hitler actor calls play "anti-racist" after Millfield School controversy
Students were photographed doing the Nazi salute and laughing during a performance by actor Pip Utton
Last updated 19th Dec 2022
An actor who's come under fire for a performance in Somerset where he dressed up as Hitler and encouraged school pupils to perform Nazi salutes, insists his play is "blatantly anti racist".
Pip Utton performed his play at Millfield School in Street back in October, but it has just hit the headlines after photos emerged online of students in the crowd performing the salute and laughing.
Reports say parents felt sick when they saw the images and the school's Head has since apologised and said the performance should not have happened, which has left the actor Mr Utton, furious.
In a statement sent to us, Mr Utton says the Headmaster's apology is a "pathetic" attempt "to wriggle out of an awkward situation".
"This is a play about all forms of intolerance, and how such intolerance can be manipulated for evil means," Mr Utton says.
"It is blatantly anti racist and anti intolerance."
Mr Utton's show has been touring internationally since 1996 and won awards.
He points out he has done four tours of Germany, three around India, many in the Netherlands and Poland, even adding that he has performed the same show at Millfield once before.
"The play’s continued success and importance, depends very much on the audience experiencing just how easy it is for their intolerances and prejudice (and we all have them) to be so easily manipulated that they can be swept up in something that’s initially seen as a silly joke but quickly turns sinister," he says.
"For the head of Millfield to say that the school should not have staged the play shows a complete lack of understanding and an unhealthy amount of intolerance.
"His comments in the media that he feels the show should have been vetted and should not have been booked is incredibly disappointing as it suggests that he believes that, pupils should not be exposed to high quality, internationally recognised challenging theatre that makes them think.
"For a parent who has not seen the play, and courageously remains anonymous, to suggest it is not suitable for students is incredibly arrogant.
"Both reactions border on censorship."
Photos from the performance shared online show a group of pupils from the school giving the salute in the audience and laughing about it, while Mr Utton performs his play dressed as Hitler.
The Jewish Chronicle has quoted the father of a Jewish pupil as saying he and other parents were horrified when they saw the images.
The man, who is not named, adds the decision to hold the play was "disgraceful".
"We are sorry for the hurt that has been caused and we have changed our approach to vetting performances so that this will never happen again," Head teacher Gavin Horgan says in a statement.
Mr Utton meanwhile, says the Head cannot claim ignorance as the school had held the play before.
"The head’s response shows a weak and feeble disregard for the professional integrity of his staff who booked the show, complete lack of faith in his students’ intelligence and absolutely no respect for my work, performance or my purpose," he said.
A spokesperson for Millfield School said they would let us know, if they wish to make any further statement.