Exclusive Brethren accusations hit Dunedin Fringe

Media Release

Exclusive Brethren accusations hit Dunedin Fringe act

A Dunedin Fringe street theatre show has been stung by accusations it is a front for the Exclusive Brethren, forcing the group to change its controversial act.

Hamilton's Fake Estate has now replaced its David Benson-Pope mask with one of Bill English. The group's roaming lunchtime mime The Ministers will be renamed The Parliamentarians, but still features local MPs Pete Hodgson and David Parker.

"People in The Octagon and George St have been angrily accusing us of being members of, or paid by, the Exclusive Brethren or the National Party," says spokesperson Mark Servian.

"Our intention is to take the piss out of politicians generally, not Labour in particular. It is NOT intended to be an attack on THE Government, it's a satire of government generally."

The three masked characters carry voice bubbles saying things like 'No comment' and 'I don't recall' and are followed around by a Dalek-like Beehive with a giant eyeball.

"We initially only chose Hodgson, Parker and Benson-Pope because they are Dunedin-based" says Servian.

"Unfortunately the two very local Nat MPs are blond women, so to keep with the suit-wearing grey-tone theme, we've added Bill English, who is at least from this end of the country.

"It's nothing personal, we just say a plague on both their houses."

ENDS

© Scoop Media