Get 'em off; GARDAI BAN CLUB'S LESBIAN SEX SHOW.

Byline: DECLAN TIERNEY

GARDAI have helped ban a lesbian show featuring simulated sex and gay porn.

Officers raided a Galway club after a series of complaints by the public.

The Black Box Theatre Company, which is funded by public money, gave permission for the use of its club for last week's raunchy stage routine, which included:

TWO erotic dancers from Dublin simulating lesbian sex;

GAY and heterosexual pornography on screens,andA SEXY dance on a side stage.

The performance is to be investigated by the Arts Committee of Galway City Council, which is responsible for the venue.

A spokesman said: "We are carrying out our investigations at the earliest possible opportunity." The controversial acts took place at Club Outstageous, which is held at the Black Box Theatre every two to three months and offers onstage entertainment.

It is aimed at the gay and lesbian community but the explicit performances also attract straight clubbers for its sexy content.

Gardai have already met with Black Box management about the issue.

A Garda source said: "We have received assurances from management that these events will be monitored in future and that there will be no repeat performances. We will be doing our level best to stop this sort of carry on."

Hundreds of people aged from 20 to 50, some of whom travelled from Dublin for the night, attended the show.

Local Labour councillor Tom Costello received complaints that the performance went "beyond the boundaries of good taste" and that women were engaged in explicit sexual acts.

Cllr Costello said the complaints were made in a private capacity but that other members of the public had expressed their concern.

He added: "I wasn't aware that activities and shows were going on in the Black Box that could give rise to such offence.

"As a council, we need to be very clear about the type of shows we put on.

"It would be sad if these events had to be curtailed."

The promoters of Club Outstageous claimed the event has been blown out of all proportion.

A spokesman said: "We staged 14 different acts on the night ranging from dancers to performance arts.

"One particular act was a bit more risque than normal, but it has been blown out of all perspective.

"There was no sex on stage. The girls were topless, but that was it."

GARDAI yesterday said the the club fell under the responsibility of the local authority but officers and council officials liaised and felt the show was "over the top".

A Garda spokeswoman said: "In this case it was agreed by council officials and the gardai that shows like this would not be given the go ahead again so as not to offend people."

A council spokesman added: "There was mainly a gay audience for this show.

"Are we really at a stage in Ireland where two girls kissing on a stage offends someone? It was a little over the top and that is why the show was stopped, but it has been blown out of proportion."

CAPTION(S):

MUCKY: Complaints were made about topless performances; RUDE GIRLS: Dancers simulated lesbian sex acts at Club Outstageous; KINKY: People travelled from Dublin to Galway to see performances