Facebook takes offence at Cromwell stage show

Cromwell's Fine Thyme Theatre Company is having to get extra creative with marketing its latest stage show after Facebook decided the content may have been too risqué.

The group of amateur thespians is presenting Kiwi play 'Ladies for Hire' - and social media giant Meta appears to have taken offence at the sexually suggestive name.

In a post on its Facebook page yesterday, the theatre company says, "Well, this is awkward...The name of our upcoming show has been flagged as a breach of FB's community standards, so we will refer to it as L4H going forward".

"If anyone from FB is reading this, it's only a play, we promise!"

'Ladies for Hire' has been censored by Facebook.

Theatre company committee chair Katie Lindsay tells Crux 'Ladies for Hire' is a comical play written by New Zealand actress and playwright Alison Quigan.

"Contrary to what Facebook believes our ladies are most definitely not for hire."

It is not the first time the theatre coming has courted controversy - its show last year, 'Ladies Night', had its predominantly male cast of local actors shedding a few layers on stage as their 'average bloke' characters attempted to make a bob or two from performing in a strip show.

Meanwhile, 'Ladies for Hire' follows the stories and misadventures of five ordinary women in a church choir.

Initial feedback to Facebook's cancelling of the title shows it's not all bad news for the Fine Thyme team, however.

"This is promotional gold! Let the world know you have a breach," one commentator said on the group's Facebook post.

"Now I'm definitely coming to see it," another confirmed.

Keen to see what all the fuss it about? Tickets can be purchased online here.

Main image (Facebook/Fine Thyme Theatre Company): The choir hard at work rehearsing for 'Ladies for Hire', April 7, 2024.