‘Coraline’ musical cancelled amid Neil Gaiman sexual assault allegations
A UK musical production of Coraline has been cancelled amid the sexual assault allegations levelled against its author Neil Gaiman.
The production was scheduled for a month-long run at the Leeds Playhouse between April 11th and May 11th before it moved to Edinburgh, Birmingham, and Manchester. However, the four co-production partners involved in the musical have issued a joint statement revealing they’ve decided it will not go ahead.
“We have decided our production of Coraline – A Musical will not proceed,” Leeds Playhouse, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Birmingham Rep and Home Manchester stated. “After careful consideration, we feel it would be impossible to continue in the context of the allegations against its original author.”
Coraline was originally a Hugo Award-winning novella published by Gaiman in 2002. It was turned into a hit stop-motion animated movie in 2009. It has already been translated twice to the stage: a 2009 Off-Broadway musical and a 2018 opera that premiered at the Barbican Centre in London.
Gaiman has been on the defensive since allegations first surfaced in a Tortoise Media podcast in July 2024. However, the situation was amplified considerably by a Vulture article entitled ‘There Is No Safe Word’ in January, which detailed a series of allegations of misconduct made by six women.
Gaiman responded with a statement saying, “I’m far from a perfect person, but I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever.”
Streaming companies have continued to cancel or pause adaptations of his work. His longtime publisher, Dark Horse Comics, also severed ties with him. “Dark Horse takes seriously the allegations against Neil Gaiman,” the publisher stated. “And we are no longer publishing his works.”
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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