‘We are deeply sorry’: STC apologises for its handling of actors’ protest

The Sydney Theatre Company has apologised for its handling of a controversy over a curtain call this week in which some cast members of The Seagull wore keffiyeh scarves in solidarity with Palestine.

The STC’s initial response to the action on Saturday was to apologise for “any distress caused” by the actors, leading a number of other performers such as Elaine Crombie, who starred in the ABC’s Black Comedy and Top End Wedding to express concern at the company’s response, saying she was “extremely perplexed”.

Mabel Li (left), Harry Greenwood (right) and Megan Wilding (middle) wearing keffiyeh in the STC’s production of The Seagull.Credit: Instagram

But others felt the response had not gone far enough. Some STC subscribers considered it “a half-hearted apology” and have signed a letter to its board claiming they “feel the gravity of the stunt necessitates a more substantial response”.

On Wednesday evening, after an emergency meeting of its board, according to sources the STC issued a statement saying: “We understand the actions at the curtain call and our immediate response has hurt many in our community. For this, we are deeply sorry.

“We believe that it was not the intent of the actors involved to cause any harm or offence,” the statement on its website said.

“We have emphasised to our performers that they are free to express their opinions and views on their own platforms. STC is working to address the concerns raised and to engage further with individuals and community groups. We welcome conversation and are committed to listening and learning,” it said.

The company confirmed late on Wednesday that that night’s performance of The Seagull was cancelled, less than an hour before the curtain was due to rise.

The Chekhov classic has been adapted by Andrew Upton. Actors Harry Greenwood, Mabel Li and Megan Wilding emerged during the encore on opening night, wearing keffiyeh.

Greenwood’s father actor Hugo Weaving is a foundation director. Another director, public relations specialist Judi Hausmann, quit her STC directorship on Tuesday following the actors’ on-stage protest.

In a letter Hausmann wrote to board members Gretel Packer, acting chair Ann Johnson and philanthropy director Danielle Heidbrink, she said the pressure on her from the local Jewish community to distance herself from the company was immense.

“As we have discussed in the past couple of days I am stunned and devastated by the STC’s woefully inadequate response to the incident on Saturday night,” she wrote in the letter.

Former STC foundation director Judi Hausmann.Credit: Janie Barrett

“What hurts most is that I love the STC and all of the people I’ve worked alongside, especially the three of you. But as I’ve told you all I need allyship as well as friendship at a time when my Jewish community is under serious threat and I’m beyond disappointed that you didn’t feel able to speak up.”

The letter from more than 1000 STC patrons to its board said: “The impact of such a partisan political action on STC’s stage extends beyond members of the audience who may have connections to the current Israel/Hamas conflict ... it may well also alienate theatregoers with no connections to the situation but who don’t consider it appropriate for cultural events to be politicised”.

The actors have drawn some support for their actions from the public. On social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, NSW Greens MP Jenny Leong said: “Imagine apologising for ‘any distress caused’ as a result of three actors wearing a scarf during the encore of a performance.”

Others though have independently threatened to cancel their subscription or boycott The Seagull, starring Sigrid Thornton, due to run until December 16.

Daniel Grynberg, a member of the Jewish community and STC subscriber for over 35 years cancelled on Monday, signing off his letter: “So long and thanks for all the plays.”

Grynberg, who has been on the board of a social enterprise which largely works with Muslim refugees and asylum seekers, told this masthead: “I am a deep believer in mutual respect, conversation and education. Cheap virtue signalling and stupid stunts bore me. They were pathetic when I was an undergraduate at UNSW. They are unworthy of a serious institution like the STC.”

All three actors involved in the action and STC board members approached did not respond to requests for comment.

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