The Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Dubbeljoint theatre company will meet today in an attempt to resolve a dispute over the council's decision to withhold funding for the company's new play, which features the rape of a Catholic woman by a Protestant man.
The Arts Council has withheld a grant for the drama, Forced Upon Us, which is co-written by a former IRA prisoner, and is playing to packed houses at the West Belfast Festival. The council's external assessors' report described the work as "clumsy propaganda". The piece is heavily critical of the RUC.
Dubbeljoint's artistic director, Ms Pam Brighton, has accused the council of censorship and said the decision not to fund the work was politically motivated. Dubbeljoint has threatened to seek a judicial review of the council's decision.
The ACNI this week carried out a review of its move to withhold £18,000 funding after it received a full script last week. It concluded that the original decision should stand.
The council said its external advisers had noted improvements in the script, but were critical of the play's lack of basic structure and clarity.
The play is a joint production between Dubbeljoint, a professional company, and JustUs, a west Belfast community drama group. It was co-written by Christine Poland and former IRA prisoner Brenda Murphy.
Dubbeljoint and the ACNI will meet at Dubbeljoint's offices on the Whiterock Road in west Belfast this afternoon.
Forced Upon Us runs at the BIFHE Centre, Whiterock Road, Belfast, until tomorrow.