The UK and Ireland tour of a production of Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird has been cancelled following an exclusivity claim by the producers of a Broadway version, organisers said.
The UK tour – set to visit locations including Birmingham, Newcastle and Aberdeen – was announced in July.
However in a statement, Jonathan Church Productions, Curve Theatre, Leicester and Regent’s Park Theatre said they were contacted by lawyers acting on behalf of Atticus Limited Liability Company, formed by Scott Rudin, the producer of the Broadway play.
We are very sorry to announce that, due to a legal dispute, the UK & Ireland tour of To Kill a Mockingbird, has been forced to cancel.
— Open Air Theatre (@OpenAirTheatre) January 21, 2019
They said the group claimed worldwide exclusivity in the professional stage rights to To Kill A Mockingbird.
The statement added the UK tour had “acted in good faith at all times”, but would face legal proceedings if it was not cancelled with immediate effect.
Organisers are “deeply saddened” at having to cancel the tour, the statement said, and apologised to those who had bought tickets as well as “those currently working to recreate the show which had been in rehearsals until today”.
It added: “We are truly sorry for the inconvenience this cancellation will cause and ask that ticket holders contact their original sales point to arrange full refunds.”
The Broadway version of To Kill A Mockingbird was adapted for the stage by Aaron Sorkin and opened in New York in December.
It is based on Harper Lee’s 1960 novel. US actor Gregory Peck starred as lawyer Atticus Finch in the 1962 film adaption.