York Council urged to publicly apologise after show cancelled over wrongly-sent email
Organisers scrapped plans to perform at Rowntree Park, after receiving an email they later found out was "never intended to be shared"
Last updated 11th Jun 2021
A theatre group in York is urging the City Council to publicly apologise for an admin error that lead to a production being cancelled this weekend (12/13 June).
The Bev Jones Music Company were due to perform Jesus Christ Superstar at the Rowntree Park Amphitheatre, but decided to cancel the event after receiving public health guidance from the council which they couldn't afford to meet.
However, they have since been told the email they were sent "did not constitute public health advice" aimed at them, and was "never intended to be shared" with them.
The group's owner has told us she is now pursuing a formal complaint, but would also like officials to publicly take responsibility for the error.
City of York Council say they did their best to share national guidance, and have promised a review of how these communications are managed.
Meanwhile, the Bev Jones Music Company are planning a festival event, "Strictly Unstoppable", at York Racecourse, after the venue was offered for free by an entertainments company (more details below).
Advice "taken out of context"
Lesley Jones, who runs the group in memory of her husband, says she received an email within the last few weeks detailing measures she should put in place, but couldn't afford to meet.
They included a professional security team to stop members of the public congregating, rather than the voluntary team with one professional the group had planned. Additional toilets were also recommended, combining to cost thousands of pounds.
However, in an email seen by Greatest Hits Radio on Sunday (6 June), Lesley was told the original email was supposed to be sent internally, and not shared with her. It added that the advice was "unfortunately taken out of context."
It continued: "I understand how angry and frustrated you must have felt in receiving it and can only apologise for the distress this has caused you."
"It made me feel ill"
Lesley says receiving the second email "made me feel ill. I cannot deny that, at all."
She added: "Having run a business that relied on the public, if I had dealt with the public and just said, 'oh did that happen? Oh sorry!' and somebody would have just gone, 'oh never mind'? No they wouldn't.
"So many people had to be let down because of their mistake, which they can just write on a piece of paper to me and it's all gone. That's how it feels. You just feel like you're just nothing, worthless.
"I ran the group with my late husband, then I took it over when he was taken ill, then I carried it on when he died. It's not a money-making task. It's something you do if you're passionate about it.
"Everything costs. You pay deposits for one security man, you lose your deposit. You pay a deposit for the park, you lose the deposit. Everything suddenly disappears."
Lesley says that while the production was fully insured, the policy does not cover cancellations where Covid-19 is quoted as a reason.
On advice from elected members of City of York council, she is now planning to submit a formal complaint against the authority, for the added financial and emotional burden.
"Strictly Unstoppable"
After hearing about the cancellation of Jesus Christ Superstar, a local events company contacted Lesley, offering a space to perform at York Racecourse before the Sounds in the Grounds Festival.
While the performance licence for Jesus Christ Superstar didn't permit the musical to be performed in the venue, the group have put together a schedule of items from musicals, for "Strictly Unstoppable... a musical spectacular."
Funds from this performance on Thursday 24 June will go towards re-staging Jesus Christ Superstar at a later date.
"We considered the event permissable"
City of York Council say they didn't require the performances of Jesus Christ Superstar, and have denied reports they advised mask-wearing for performers.
In a statement on Thursday (10 June), Matt Boxall, Heading of Public Protection at City of York Council, said: "The role of City of York Council in this process has only been to share national guidance and advice through the Safety Advisory Group (SAG). Our communications have stated that we considered the event permissible, but there were several points to consider.
"We did not cancel the event, or require the performers wear face coverings.
"Through the Safety Advisory Group, the Council and our partners in the emergency services provide advice and guidance to help ensure dozens of events take place safely each year. But given the confusion that has clearly arisen in this case, we are exploring ways to ensure that advice given in future can be made even clearer."