Sounds like the Bard presenters were the bullies here.
You know when I was young I would have just told them no. My daughter was the same way. What is wrong with all these kids that they just give in so easily and do as they are told?
My daughter knew that even if she got in trouble at school and it was for something that she or I believed strongly about, that I would back her to the hilt and take a trip down to the school in a heartbeat. Matter of fact her friends used to giggle about it and go....wait til your mom hears. lol