Royal Ballet, Opera Cancel Israel Performances Amid Boycott
Published on 8.5.25
The Royal Ballet and Opera in the UK have cancelled all performances in Israel following a staff-led boycott call, with 182 employees signing an open letter condemning Israel's actions in Gaza as "genocide". The decision comes after a performer raised the Palestinian flag on stage during a performance of Il Trovatore, prompting Oliver Mears, Director of the ROH Opera, to attempt to take it away. The staff's demands include rejecting future performances in Israel and not supporting institutions that financially back the state. This move is seen as unprecedented in scale and swift action by a major UK cultural institution in response to internal pressure.