A production company which will be performing a play about flooding says members did not intend to cause offence to Perthshire residents.
Euan Martin, of Right Lines, told The Courier his group “deliberately” avoided pencilling in Alyth because they thought it would be too close to flooding events and may be deemed “insensitive.”
But an email sent by backers led to angry responses from town residents.
Backers Neighbourhood Watch Scotland and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) later apologised for the gaffe, which invited Perth and Kinross residents to watch the “immersive comedy”, Rapid Departure.
Mr Martin said it was “unfortunate” people in Alyth have been “upset and offended” by the release of the email, but highlighted how many people had watched the play.
“Over 1,000 people saw Rapid Departure on the first tour,” he said. “Sixty-five per cent of those audience members completed feedback forms and, of those, 97% rated the show four or five-star.”
He continued: “We deliberately avoided programming performances in the Alyth area specifically because we thought it would be too close to actual flooding events and may be deemed insensitive.
“Similarly, we have removed dates in Aberdeenshire and the Borders for exactly the same reason, following the winter flooding events.
“It is not our intention to cause offence to anyone and as a Moray Council employee, I have had personal experience of flooding incidents in the Moray area.
“Therefore the very last thing I would want to do is make fun of people who have been victims of these dreadful events.
“These issues are addressed very sensitively in the play, as those who attend will discover.”
Strathmore councillor Dennis Melloy was not placated, stating: “It is all very well to apologise after the event but it should never have been allowed to happen.
“I intend to ask for a full enquiry from Sepa and Neighbourhood Watch Scotland into who was responsible and why was it allowed to happen in the first place.”
A spokesperson for Sepa said: “The tour was not scheduled to visit Alyth as it was considered that this would not be an appropriate location for the play at this time.
“It was intended that advertising material should be restricted in distribution so as not to cause offence to those who have been affected by flooding.
“We can only apologise for any distress caused by this oversight on our part.”