UK
Actors call on theatre to drop sponsor
The letter objects to the Royal Bank of Canada’s investments in fossil fuels and arms manufacturers that have supplied Israel
August 11, 2024 11:29
The letter objects to the Royal Bank of Canada’s investments in fossil fuels and arms manufacturers that have supplied Israel
August 11, 2024 11:29Leading actors have called for a London theatre to drop a principal sponsor because of its investment in fossil fuels and arms manufacturers that have supplied Israel.
According to the Observer, some 80 artistic and cultural figures that include the award-winning actor Sir Mark Rylance have penned a letter demanding that the Old Vic sever its ties with the Royal Bank of Canada.
The paper reported that they had “expressed concern:” that the bank holds “billions of dollars of shares” in weapons manufacturers which have exported to Israel.
As well as Rylance, others reported to have put their names to the disinvestment call are Games of Throne actor Stephen Dillane, Paapa Essiedu, who starred in the BBC series I May Destroy You, and playwright Caryl Churchill, who penned the notorious play Seven Jewish Children.
The letter claimed the theatre was helping to “further the business of one of the world’s biggest financiers of fossil fuel development and investors in war”.
In response, a spokesman for the bank was quoted as saying that it was planning to triple loans for renewable energy projects from £3.9 billion a year to £11.7 billion.
According to the Observer, a spokesman for the Old Vic said, “We respect the varied views of our colleagues within the creative community. As a registered charity with no regular public subsidy, the Old Vic is reliant on ticket sales and philanthropic and corporate donations. We work with a variety of partners to further our mission: to enable anyone to experience, make and benefit from theatre.”
Earlier in the year, a similar campaign forced one of the country’s major literary festivals, the Hay Festival, to suspend sponsorship with investment company Baillie Gifford over its links with fossil fuel producers and Israel.
Meanwhile, Waltham Forest Council in London is reported to be reviewing its pension investments following pressure from pro-Palestinian activists.
According to the Waltham Forest Echo, a Freedom of Information request from the Waltham Forest For a Free Palestine showed that the council had money in firms linked to the production of Israeli military hardware.
A Bill tabled by the previous Conservative government would have prevented bodies such as local councils targeting Israel for divestment but it ran out of parliamentary time before it could be passed.