PATRONS have raised concerns about a Launceston Halloween theatre performance that saw teenagers as young as 13 confronted by scenes of drug injection, abortion, rape and murder followed by religious preaching.
Several patrons have contacted The Examiner since the weekend over RIOT Theatre's Haunted House event, which opened in Launceston on Friday.
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Complaints have centred on the event's strong content and its non-disclosure of religious content or that it was a church-organised event.
Jessica Penfold, of Launceston, attended last week's performance with two friends, expecting a traditional haunted house of ghosts and ghouls and light-hearted entertainment.
Instead, she described portrayals of a drunk, laughing doctor performing an abortion on a screaming woman who later dies, a simulated violent rape, and a screaming dead woman with rope burns.
RIOT Theatre spokesman Michael White defended the Halloween performance, saying that advertising and flyers clearly stated its content and that it was ``not a traditional haunted house-style event''.
But Miss Penfold disagreed.
``It was complete false advertising _ nothing on the flyer said anything about it being a church group putting this together,'' she said.
She said although children under 13 were prevented from entering the Haunted House, she said it was inappropriate for young teenagers to be subjected to some of the performance material.
``We were waiting outside with kids aged 14 and 15, dressed up and quite excited, and inside they were learning about needles, abortion and rape,'' Miss Penfold said.
She said she twice asked to leave early but was ignored by a security guard and told to ``keep moving'' by an organiser.
``And at the end, we were swarmed upon by people preaching to us, asking us to come forward and say a prayer and that we should give ourselves to God otherwise we will be going to hell,'' Miss Penfold said.
Mr White said nobody was prevented from leaving.
``We hired a security team who were glad to escort out any guest who wanted to exit during the event,'' he said.
``... we like any dramatic event do ask that all guests remain seated during live performances for consideration to others and the overall event.
``What people saw is far less then they witness in any Hollywood movie that makes its way through our city on a routine basis.''
The Potter's House drew criticism when it staged the performance in 2001 without disclosing its religious content and having actors preach to the audience.
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