On This Day: Risqué hippy musical 'Hair' opens in London after theatre censorship is finally withdrawn in Britain
September 27: The risqu hippy musical Hair opened in Londons West End after theatre on this day in 1968 after theatre censorship was finally withdrawn in Britain.
The producers delayed the opening at the Shaftesbury Theatre until the then Labour government had abolished censorship by enacting the Theatres Act 1968.
Despite mixed reviews, it went on to become one of the Britains biggest hits prompting 1,997 performances before the Shaftesburys roof collapsed in 1973.
Hair, which was billed as an American tribal love-rock musical, included the West End debuts of several future stars, such as Elaine Paige and Richard OBrien.
Paul Nicholas, another first-timer, was filmed by British Path leading the cast in a public performance of Hairs iconic Age of Aquarius song on a London street.
The story of the tribe of long-haired New York hippies focused on Claude and his dilemma over whether to resist the Armys draft or do as his parents want and fight.
Written by out-of-work actors James Rado and Gerome Ragni, it revealed the struggle of the social and sexual revolution of the 1960s against conservative America.
It broke new ground by becoming the first rock musical with many of the songs written by Galt MacDermot becoming hits in their own right.
It was also the first show to include a Be In - where members of the audience joined the cast on the stage to sing Hare Krishna - and racially integrated cast.
Yet the sex, drugs, anti-war theme and irreverence to the American flag upset many people in the U.S.
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On This Day: Risqué hippy musical 'Hair' opens in London after theatre censorship is finally withdrawn in Britain