NUDITY AND THE STAGE

Evening Post, Issue 25, 30 January 1935, Page 9

NUDITY AND THE STAGE

MOftALITY COUNCIL'S VIEWS

; (From "The Port's" Representative) . LONDON, January 5. ' The view that nudity or semi-nudity at bathing resorts differs 'from that ' onI'the stage-and is less >dangeronsj • is >piVb forward ,on behalf of the Public Morality, Council, in a statement 1 regarding" the opinion on the subject •recently expressed by tho Bishop of London',.-who is president, and the - cliairman of the council. - - In the statement, which is signed by • Mies "Edith Neville, the chairman ■ of -the' Stage Plays Committee, and Mr. ." Howard M. Tyrer, the secretary of the council, it is claimed that tho Bishop's '' reference represents the considered ■ view of a large section of tho com- '. munity. i "Members of this council who are ■ frequent theatre-goers have, for the ;last two or three years, reported to . the council their concern at the growing '.'practice of extreme undress on ,the '. atage," the statement adds. •_■ Tho Council's Plays Committee have embodied thoir views on the subject -as follows: '.i "Even if i% be contended that the -i diffusion of; -sex knowledge together , with present day customs have lessened '..'the effect of this development on '■impressionable minds, tho committee # still strongly maintain that there is "no legitimate comparison between ..nudity or semi-nudity in art schools, k. bathing, sports of normal environment, ,-.and that which is displayed in the emotional atmosphere of a crowded I theatre and sometimes exploited in '.scenes of sexual interest or association. -. "In tho opinion of the committee ; such representations Jby their lack of modesty, and the frequency with which ; they occur, are calculated to excite BOnsuously impressionable minds and, •. in the opinion of a number of members, > -will tend to degrade audiences which • include couples of opposite sexes, and particularly those of an age sriscep-J , tiblo to sex influences." ■ -Tho hope is_ expressed that the pro--test of the Bishop of London will, be •,effective in securing the elimination of '» practice which is not "in tho best •interests of the theatre itself." '