THE musical adaptation of Coraline, which was due to appear at Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum Theatre this year, has been cancelled amid allegations against its original author.
The musical was based on the 2002 novella of the same name by Neil Gaiman, and was set to tour the UK throughout 2025, with appearances in Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham, as well as just under a month’s residency in Edinburgh.
The stage show, which would have played at the Lyceum from 26 June to 19 July, has now been scrapped however, following allegations of sexual misconduct against Gaiman.
In a joint statement from the Lyceum, Leeds Playhouse, Birmingham’s Repertory and the Home in Manchester, the theatres agreed it would be “impossible” to continue with the production amid the controversy surrounding the 64-year-old author.
The statement reads: “We have decided our production of Coraline – A Musical will not proceed.
“After careful consideration, we feel it would be impossible to continue in the context of the allegations against its original author.
“Ticket holders have been contacted directly via email.”
Gaiman has denied allegations of sexual misconduct made by nine women, saying he has “never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever”.
The first arose in July 2024, when two women made sexual assault allegations against Gaiman on a Tortoise Media podcast, before three more came forward barely a month later.
Just this month, New York Magazine’s Vulture website published an investigation in which four further women accused Gaiman of assault, including nonconsensual BDSM.
Coraline isn’t the only work to be affected by the allegations though, with Dark Horse Comics dropping the author and cancelling his Anansi Boys comic series.
The Amazon Prime Video series Good Omens, which is based on the books Gaiman co-wrote with Terry Pratchett and stars David Tennant, will also end with one more episode instead of a full third season.
