Show scheduled for next year pulled after 182 members of UK company sign letter criticising RBO’s stance on Gaza
The Royal Ballet and Opera has pulled its 2026 production run of Tosca at the Israeli National Opera in Tel Aviv.
The internal announcement by the RBO chief executive, Alex Beard, came after almost 200 Royal Opera and Ballet members signed an open letter criticising the organisation’s stance on Gaza.
Beard acknowledged the “open letter that has been circulating internally” and told staff: “We have made the decision that our new production of Tosca will not be going to Israel.” The Israeli National Opera website has now dropped reference to the Royal Opera House.
The letter sent to Beard and the RBO board on Friday was signed by 182 RBO members including dancers, singers, musicians and staff across artistic, creative, technical and administrative departments. It is understood that 40 signatories signed with their names while the others signed anonymously because of fear of reprisals.
