The theatre in Edinburgh had intended to send recordings of its summer schools to children and parents, but instead sent out DVDs full of explicit sexual content.
Edinburgh Playhouse has issued an apology to parents, and said the fault lay with the productions company that made the DVDs, Edithouse.
They have issued a statement saying they take ‘full responseibility’ for the mistake.
‘We would like to apologise sincerely to the Edinburgh Playhouse for the inconvenience and most importantly to the children and parents affected by this terrible error. We are sorry for any distress caused.’
Theatre bosses added that the mistake was only discovered when staff picked up a copy of the film and began watching it.
A 10-year-old girl’s father, who had waited months for the footage, has described the film as ‘absolutely disgusting filth.’
Police Scotland said no crime had been committed as it was an error rather than a deliberate circulation of pornography to children.