Media Development Authority bans Elangovan's play Stoma

Singapore playwright Elangovan's first play after a three-year hiatus will not be staged.

The play, Stoma, which tells the story of a Catholic priest defrocked over sex abuse charges, was denied a performance licence yesterday.

It was originally slated to run at The Substation in Armenian Street from Jan 17 to 19.

In a letter to Mr Elangovan, artistic director of theatre company Agni Kootthu (Theatre Of Fire), the Media Development Authority said a licence was not issued because the play contains "sexually explicit, blasphemous and offensive references and language which would be denigrating to the Catholic and the wider Christian community".