Chichester's MP Jess Brown-Fuller has condemned reports of racist, homophobic and xenophobic abuse experienced by cast members of a production at Chichester Festival Theatre, describing the incidents as "truly disgusting".
The Liberal Democrat MP has spoken out following allegations made by comedian and actor Munya Chawawa about the treatment of performers involved in A Midsummer Night's Dream while staying in the city.
The incidents have also prompted a strong response from the University of Chichester, which says it stands firmly against racism and homophobia.
In a statement, Jess Brown-Fuller said: "Like most of the Chichester community, I have been incredibly saddened to hear about the experiences of the cast of A Midsummer Night’s Dream while performing in Chichester.
"The incidents Munya describes, including homophobic, racist and xenophobic abuse on our streets, are truly disgusting. Although I know these views do not represent the majority of people in Chichester, they do point to wider, society-wide failings.
"Munya spoke about the ‘pipeline of hatred’ that people see and hear in their daily lives. We cannot allow this to continue. What we need is a society-wide, cross-agency approach to tackling both the root causes of this behaviour and how it is policed."
The MP's comments highlight growing concern about performers' experiences and the wider impact of discriminatory behaviour on people visiting, working, and living in the city.
Ms Brown-Fuller has called for a coordinated approach involving different agencies to address both the causes of such behaviour and the response from authorities.
The University of Chichester has also expressed its concern, condemning the reported incidents and emphasising its commitment to equality and inclusion.
A university spokesperson said: "We were extremely upset to hear about the racism and homophobia that Munya Chawawa and others experienced during his time on A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Chichester Festival Theatre. The University of Chichester condemns such behaviour and does not tolerate racism or homophobia in any form.
"Our community works hard to promote a culture where individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and the University has an equality policy in place recognising the need for respect, dignity and a sense of belonging for everyone. We stand against such abhorrent behaviour."
The statements from the MP and university add to the public response to the allegations, with both organisations making clear that discriminatory abuse has no place in Chichester.
The controversy follows the cancellation of a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream on Tuesday 13 October after a cast member was reportedly followed and verbally abused by a group of young men on bicycles in Chichester city centre.
The incident, which police are treating as a homophobic hate crime, happened near Little London car park, behind East Street, at around 6 pm.
The production completed its run at Chichester Festival Theatre on Saturday 17 October.
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