Sydney Theatre Company cancels show after issuing edict to actors, apology following pro-Palestine protest

The Sydney Theatre Company abruptly canned a performance of The Seagull last night, less than an hour after publicly ordering its stars to keep their pro-Palestine politics off stage.

Sydney Theatre Company cast members Mabel Li and Megan Wilding at the stage door of the Roslyn Packer Theatre, Sydney. Picture: Jane Dempster

The Sydney Theatre Company abruptly cancelled a performance of its flagship production on Wednesday night, less than an hour after publicly ordering the show’s stars to keep their pro-Palestine politics off the stage

The STC said in a statement it was ­“deeply sorry” for the hurt caused to thousands of Jewish patrons by an actors’ protest on The Seagull’s opening night last Saturday and the company’s own “immediate response”, saying that individual expression did not “supersede” its responsibility to create a safe space.

“We also recognise that when our audiences attend a production, they come to experience the content in that play and that play only, and that any exception to this needs to be done in consultation with the company and consideration of our duty of care,” the STC said.

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

The Australian understands some audience members were in their seats at the Roslyn Packer Theatre when they received an email telling them the show was cancelled.

Harry Greenwood, right along with co-stars Megan Wilding, second from right, and Mabel Li, left, wore keffiyeh scarfs during the encore at the opening night of the STC production of The Seagull at Sydney’s Roslyn Packer Theatre. Picture: Instagram

Thousands of STC supporters, members and patrons – from both the Jewish and wider arts communities – this week had written an open letter to the company, calling for a full apology and ­explanation for the protest.

On Wednesday, prominent Sydney PR professional Judi Haus­mann quit the theatre company’s foundation board after 15 years, telling the top brass she was “stunned” and “devastated” by its handling of the actors’ stunt

The STC said it was “not the intent” of the trio of cast members – who wore traditional Arabic headdress during the production’s opening night encore in a “stance” in support of “occupied Palestine” – to “cause any harm or offence”.

The STC said other cast and crew were not aware of the stunt in advance. Two of those cast members – Mabel Li and Megan Wilding – declined to comment to questions when approached on Wednesday by The Australian at the Roslyn Packer Theatre, instead deciding to hide their faces when asked about Saturday’s encore stunt.

The third cast member, Harry Greenwood, is the son of Lord Of The Rings actor Hugo Weaving, who is on the STC’s board.

Judi Hausmann, former foundation director at the Sydney Theatre Company.

“We understand the actions at the curtain call and our immediate response has hurt many in our community – for this, we are deeply sorry,” the statement read. “We support individual freedom of expression but believe that the right to free speech does not supersede our responsibility to create safe workplaces and ­theatres.

“We believe that it was not the intent of the actors involved to cause any harm or offence. We have emphasised to our performers that they are free to express their opinions and views on their own platforms.”

The STC said it was “working to address concerns”, to “engage with community groups” and “review” its own policies.

“Theatre is a place for exploring ideas with complexity and context,” it said. “We recognise that artists bring their whole selves to our stages and in doing so, they bring a rich diversity of views and lived experience … and through our art, we seek to foster a better and more compassionate world.”

Harry Greenwood in The Seagull. Picture: Prudence Upton

Mabel Li as Nina in The Seagull. Picture: Prudence Upton

On Wednesday, The Australian revealed that longstanding Jewish STC foundational board member and prominent Sydney PR professional Ms Hausmann felt she had no choice but to resign from the board.

“I never imagined my resignation would be necessary because I’m a Jew,” Ms Hausmann wrote on Tuesday to acting chair Ann Johnson, Gretel Packer, and Danielle Heidbrink. Ms Packer is the chair of the foundation director board, Ms Heidbrink the director of philanthropy.

Ms Hausmann’s resignation marked a significant escalation of the crisis engulfing the STC, and she leaves the company’s foundational director board, which includes Hollywood star Mia Wasikowska, comedian Tim Minchin and Weaving.

Markus Hamilton and Megan Wilding in The Seagull. Picture: Prudence Upton

Ms Hausmann had been a foundation director at the STC since 2008 and is the remix organising committee chair, and a c-suite executive across Sydney’s PR industry, currently founder and chairman of The Haus group. “What hurts most is that I love the STC and all of the people I’ve worked alongside, especially the three of you,” she wrote.

“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 don’t feel able to speak up.”

Ms Hausmann’s letter revealed she urged STC executives for a “one-night pause” of The Seagull’s run, to give time to “craft a resolution that would be acceptable to all parties”.

She declined to comment when contacted by The Australian, who obtained the letter through industry sources.

“It was a quiet Monday night where you had the chance to stand up and be counted, without losing much in terms of box ­office,” Ms Hausmann wrote.

The Australian also understands that the STC held a “crisis meeting” on Tuesday.