Ballet and Opera performance of 'Tosca' was called off in Israel due to employee protests

Ballet and Opera performance of 'Tosca' was called off in Israel due to employee protests

The Royal Ballet and Opera (RBO), under the Royal Opera House, has announced the cancellation of its 2026 production of Puccini’s Tosca at the Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv. This decision follows significant internal staff backlash and a recent controversy involving a Palestinian flag displayed by a performer during a show.

More than 180 members of the RBO, including artists, technicians, and administrative departments, signed an open letter condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza and criticizing the company's collaboration with the Israeli Opera. Staff members argued that this collaboration effectively supported forces involved in civilian casualties in Gaza and called for halting all future performances in Israel.

The controversy was further fuelled by an incident where the RBO's director of opera attempted to forcibly remove a Palestinian flag from a protesting dancer during a performance, citing concerns about maintaining the decorum of curtain calls and avoiding unruly protests on stage.

However, Alex Beard, chief executive of the RBO, has emphasised that the cancellation was not a political statement but a practical move in challenging circumstances. He stated that the decision was made due to backlash from staff following an onstage demonstration at the Royal Opera House.

The Israeli National Opera website has dropped its reference to the Royal Opera House, reflecting the growing cultural and political sensitivities influencing arts organisations’ decisions about collaborations with Israeli institutions. This trend mirrors a growing polarization and pressure linked to movements like BDS (boycott, divestment, sanctions) and shifting public opinion in the UK.

Artists for Palestine UK praised the RBO staff's open letter as a victory for grassroots organising and an essential ethical uprising against silence or worse in the cultural sector. The letter compares the RBO's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, praising the institution for its swift and decisive action.

Beard stated that the RBO respects the full range of views held by its staff, artists, and audiences. He also expressed his concern about the crisis in Gaza and acknowledged the emotional impact it has had on the community and wider society. The RBO's leadership has also stated that they are reviewing their internal protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.

In summary, the cancellation of the RBO's production of Tosca in Israel follows internal staff protests and an open letter condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza. It was triggered by controversy around the display of a Palestinian flag and related tensions during performances. RBO leadership cited safety concerns rather than political motivations, but the decision reflects wider cultural and political sensitivities influencing arts organisations’ decisions about collaborations with Israeli institutions.

1. The staff at The Royal Ballet and Opera (RBO) have called for halting all future performances in Israel due to concerns about civilian casualties in Gaza.
2. Over 180 RBO members, including artists, technicians, and administrative departments, signed an open letter criticizing the company's collaboration with the Israeli Opera.
3. The RBO's decision to cancel its 2026 production of Puccini’s Tosca in Tel Aviv was triggered by an onstage demonstration at the Royal Opera House.
4. Staff members argue that this collaboration effectively supported forces involved in civilian casualties in Gaza.
5. The Israeli National Opera website no longer references the Royal Opera House, reflecting growing cultural and political sensitivities.
6. The RBO's cancellation of its production in Israel mirrors a growing polarization and pressure linked to movements like BDS (boycott, divestment, sanctions) and shifting public opinion in the UK.
7. The controversy was further fuelled by an incident where the RBO's director of opera attempted to remove a Palestinian flag from a protesting dancer during a performance.
8. Artists for Palestine UK praised the RBO staff's open letter as a victory for grassroots organising and an essential ethical uprising.
9. The RBO's leadership has expressed concern about the crisis in Gaza and acknowledged its emotional impact on the community and wider society.
10. The RBO respects the full range of views held by its staff, artists, and audiences, according to its chief executive, Alex Beard.
11. Beard emphasized that the cancellation was not a political statement but a practical move in challenging circumstances.
12. The RBO's leadership has stated that they are reviewing their internal protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
13. The decision to cancel the RBO's production in Israel reflects wider cultural and political sensitivities influencing arts organizations' decisions about collaborations with Israeli institutions.
14. This trend mirrors a growing polarization and pressure linked to movements like BDS and shifting public opinion in the UK.
15. The cancellation of the RBO's production of Tosca in Israel follows significant internal staff backlash and a recent controversy involving a Palestinian flag displayed by a performer.
16. The RBO's open letter compares the institution's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, praising the swift and decisive action.
17. The RBO's cancellation of its production in Israel resonates with broader discussions around education-and-self-development, personal-growth, and mindfulness.
18. The RBO's decision highlights the importance of responsible-gambling and navigating sensitive issues within the context of casino-and-gambling establishments.
19. Just as the RBO is a cornerstone of the arts, social-media platforms serve as crucial spaces for spreading news and supporting political and social causes.
20. Meanwhile, in the world of casino-culture and pop-culture, big-wins and blackjack incidents often overshadow the realities of the Vegas-history and Vegas-myths.
21. Sites like Las Vegas are steeped in gambling-trends, casino-personalities, and entertainment, attracting celebrities and sports enthusiasts alike.
22. Celebrities like film stars from movies-and-tv shows often contribute to the glamorization of these establishments, creating an allure similar to the appeal of policy-and-legislation, car-accidents, politics, and general-news.
23. On the other hand, examples of crime-and-justice and accidents, such as fires, are painful reminders of the dangers and controversies associated with these industries.
24. Learning from such events, individuals must set goals for lifelong-learning and engage in skills-training to address problems and better understand the complexities of society.
25. Successful job-search and career-development require a combination of education, responsibility, and productivity, even in unconventional fields such as online-education, poker, and roulette.
26. The football world, including premier-league, American-football, NFL, soccer, Champions League, WNBA, European leagues, and even sci-fi-and-fantasy has been impacted by controversies and policy changes.
27. As we continue to pursue personal-growth and strive for success, it's essential to remain mindful of the interconnectedness of our lives and the various aspects of pop-culture, politics, sports, and learning.

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