This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

A Melbourne comedian whose Adelaide fringe show has been criticised for its controversial title says he regrets that it is being used to play politics.

Come Heckle Christ is an improvised comedy show featuring Joshua Ladgrove, a comedian who physically resembles classic Renaissance images of Jesus Christ.

“I can’t help but feel some of the rage is somewhat manufactured, pre-processed and inauthentic,” Ladgrove told Guardian Australia.

“I think it’s silly, mildly amusing and good for Adelaide fringe.”

In the show, Ladgrove appears on stage dressed as Jesus Christ and sticky-taped to a cardboard crucifix.

He then has to react spontaneously as audience members heckle on him any subject, allowing them to drive the show’s direction.

The show ran successfully at last year’s Melbourne fringe but sparked controversy in Adelaide on Thursday when Catholic Archbishop Philip Wilson wrote to parishioners calling the show “blasphemous”.

“While I am a strong advocate for freedom of speech and a supporter of the arts, I believe this production is extremely offensive to people of any religious persuasion and insulting to many South Australians,” the letter read.

“It is outrageous and entirely inappropriate for this sort of anti-Christian, blasphemous performance to be included in a public festival such as the Fringe.”

The archbishop also wrote to the premier, Jay Weatherill, and fringe sponsors asking them to intervene before the fringe begins in a fortnight.

Weatherill refused to be drawn at the time, calling the show’s title “juvenile” but suggesting it was best to ignore it.

The controversy has since been kept alive by the Rev Fred Nile, party leader of the New South Wales Christian Democrats, who used his Twitter account to label the show “anti-Christian bigotry”.

Fred Nile (@frednile) Why is @sagovau & @BankSA sponsoring antiChristian hate at the @adelaide_fringe festival 'Come Heckle Jesus'? #auspol pic.twitter.com/yzNRziMCUt

He then asked Twitter followers to continue to contact fringe sponsor BankSA and fringe organisers to put pressure on them to cancel the show.

BankSA says it has received the complaints as well as messages of support for the show.

“BankSA is proud of our partnership with Adelaide Fringe and, at the same time, we acknowledge and respect concerns expressed by members of the community,” it said in a statement.

“Given the open access, non-curated nature of the Fringe, any artist can register an event and be a part of the festival.

“We sponsor the entire event, but do not examine individual shows, of which there are over 900.”

Fringe director Greg Clarke has so far resisted calls to cut the show from the program.

“We don't curate the festival. I don't program the festival, and this is the way the fringe has been run now for over 50 years,” he told ABC radio on Saturday.

"It does concern me that people are targeting organisations. They can't cancel the show; I just don't know what people are hoping to gain from that."

Ladgrove has received “lots” of angry emails about the show, but says he will not cancel and the reaction will not affect his performance.

“I’ve responded politely and by offering an explanation of what the show is and isn’t, and in some instances it has set the complainants' mind at ease,” he said.

“Many have offered to pray for me, which I think is a very nice thing indeed.”