At least one-third of Opera Australia employees believe it has bullying problem

At least one in three Opera Australia staff believe bullying and harassment is a problem at the national performing arts company, according to a survey leaked amid the fallout from a dispute at its lavish Sydney production of Phantom of the Opera.

The recent staff survey also found Opera Australia does not have a good track record of responding to the concerns and complaints of its employees.

The lavish Sydney Harbour production of The Phantom of the Opera is at the centre of a dispute at Opera Australia.Credit: Prudence Upton

In an internal note seen by the Herald, Opera Australia chief executive Fiona Allan said the results also showed that over half of all employees don’t feel comfortable speaking up or making a complaint.

“Even more worryingly, one in three of you indicated you believe that bullying and harassment is a problem at Opera Australia and you provided anonymous comments around incidents that have taken place,” Allan said in the email last month.

The number may even be higher; an attachment to Allan’s email noted “only” one-third of staff thought Opera Australia was free of bullying and harassment. Opera Australia did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday night.

Lyndon Terracini will leave as director of Opera Australia at the end of 2023.

It earlier engaged external experts to help review claims about a dispute between artistic director Lyndon Terracini and a leading Phantom cast member.

The Herald reported on Thursday that some cast had threatened not to perform in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s smash-hit in protest at the treatment of Callum Francis, who plays Raoul in the Sydney Harbour show.

Francis was stood down on Tuesday afternoon, with sources close to the production claiming it was due to a clash that began when Terracini made an inappropriate remark during a coaching session.

The alleged remark was not about race. Terracini denies making it and said Francis was stood down due to concerns about his voice following his recovery from COVID-19.

Asked about the allegations, Terracini said: “If they are referring to Callum, I have spent a maximum of 30 minutes with him. I can’t understand how anyone could interpret that as bullying. These are very serious accusations and it is very easy to make them anonymously. If they want to put their names to them I will address them.”

In a private group chat, cast members expressed concern about the Phantom workplace and discussed “holding the curtain” [not going on stage in protest].

One senior cast member said performing that evening would be “validating this behaviour in the workplace” while another claimed Francis “is being bullied and prevented from performing”.

Opera Australia has warned the cast and crew not to speak to the media about the situation.

The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance – the union that represents performers – is also examining a range of workplace health and safety issues at Phantom which are separate to the tensions between Terracini and Francis.

In her email to staff last month, Allan said a hotline had been set up to allow current and past employees to outline their concerns about working at Opera Australia – “for example, concerns about workplace behaviours or conduct”.

“We need to make our workplace safe and supportive for all who are here – there is no place for bullying, harassment or other poor behaviours,” Allan said. “We need to create a culture where people feel able to speak up without fear of retribution. I am committed to working with you all to make change.”

Opera Australia had more than 600 full- and part-time staff before the pandemic.

The organisation said it took seriously the concerns raised by the Phantom cast and said they were being reviewed as a matter of urgency.

Terracini announced in February he would step down as artistic director at the end of his current contract in December 2023.