Dame Maureen Lipman has revealed that she experienced sleepless nights after two actors withdrew from the West End production of "Right Before I Go" over her pro-Israel views. The actors, Gerard McCarthy and Iz Hesketh, cited their incompatibility with Lipman's publicly stated positions on Israel and Palestine as the reason for their departures.
McCarthy, who had been set to reprise his role, stated he privately raised concerns before deciding to leave the London production. Hesketh, a transgender actress, followed suit, saying she no longer felt the production aligned with her personal values. Both actors reportedly refused to promote the show because of Lipman's involvement.
Lipman, 80, indicated she considered stepping down to avoid the controversy becoming a distraction. However, the play's director, Abigail Morris, persuaded her to stay. "The truth is all this has been keeping me awake at night. It is scary, horrible and unnecessary," Lipman told The Times. "It had crossed my mind that it might be easier for everyone if I go and they all stay, but I had an email from Abigail Morris, who is the director, which was very sympathetic and understanding. So I have decided to put the worry to one side and carry on."
"Right Before I Go" addresses the sensitive subject of suicide, drawing on real suicide notes. Each performance includes a post-show discussion with cast members, the audience, and a mental health professional. The play was devised by writer Stan Zimmerman, who was grieving the suicide of a friend. Lipman was scheduled to appear in a performance on September 10, coinciding with World Suicide Prevention Day.
Despite the backlash, Lipman expressed pleasure in participating, calling the issue of young people and suicide "vital." A spokesperson for the production stated that the company understands cast and collaborators hold diverse perspectives and that the political views of cast members are kept separate from artistic collaboration.
Lipman has been a prominent British Jewish voice in support of Israel since the October 7 attacks and has faced criticism from pro-Palestinian activists. In May, campaigners targeted performances of her comedy "Allegra" in Aberdeen with a poster that depicted her with devil horns and a pitchfork. Police Scotland examined the poster but determined it did not constitute a crime, classifying it as a non-crime hate incident.
Lipman has previously criticized protests against Israel by left-wing actors, describing them as "very, very close to fascism," and has referred to performers who signed open letters condemning Israeli military action as "bigoted signaturists" and "bleeding heartless liberals."
McCarthy reportedly liked several abusive comments on social media after announcing his withdrawal, some of which contained anti-Semitic language. He later issued a statement clarifying that he did not endorse anti-Semitic language or personal abuse, stating his likes were intended as acknowledgments of support for his decision to withdraw and not endorsements of the specific language used. He has since removed the likes and reiterated that his decision was based on publicly expressed views regarding Israel and Palestine, not on Lipman's Jewish identity, and that he is against anti-Semitism.