Coraline play cancelled after Gaiman allegations
Ian Youngs
Culture reporter
BBC
A new musical based on Neil Gaiman’s book Coraline has been scrapped following sexual misconduct allegations against the author.
The show had been due to open at Leeds Playhouse in April before being staged at Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum Theatre, the Birmingham Rep and Manchester’s Home.
In a joint statement, the theatres said: “After careful consideration, we feel it would be impossible to continue in the context of the allegations against its original author.”
Gaiman, 64, has denied allegations of sexual misconduct made by eight women, saying he has “never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever”.
Coraline, a dark fantasy horror children’s novella, was first published in 2002 and was made into an animated film in 2009.
The venues due to host the stage adaptation said ticket holders had been contacted directly via email.
The “family friendly” show had been described as “a darkly imaginative, richly rendered fantasy story”, and had been written by playwright Zinnie Harris with music by Louis Barabbas.
It was announced last May and had been due to be a major production for the four theatres, but its cancellation will leave a major hole in their schedules and finances.
However, the theatres said they had no option after further allegations emerged in recent weeks.
In mid-January, New York Magazine and its website Vulture reported allegations from eight women, four of whom had also contributed to a Tortoise Media investigation in July 2024.
Gaiman said he had read the latest allegations with “horror and dismay”.
There were “moments I half-recognise and moments I don’t” in the women’s accounts, he said, adding that he was “far from a perfect person” but had “never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone”.
Dark Horse Comics, a publisher of Gaiman’s graphic novels and comic books, has cancelled forthcoming releases.
