Sydney Theatre Company apologises after pro-Palestine scarf statement during encore for The Seagull

The company distances itself from its actors who donned traditional scarfs during an encore in a ‘stance’ against the ‘occupation of the Palestinian people’.

Harry Greenwood, right along with co-stars Megan Wilding, second 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

The Sydney Theatre Company has apologised after a group of actors hijacked the opening night of its flagship production with an onstage pro-Palestine protest, as the nation’s leading arts philanthropists warned the performers risk marginalising the Jewish community.

The three actors – led by Hollywood star Hugo Weaving’s son Harry Greenwood – donned Palestinian scarfs during the encore of The Seagull on Saturday night and later promoted their protest online as a condemnation of the “occupation” and “genocide” of Gaza.

The Chekhov classic has been adapted by ex-Sydney Theatre company creative director and playwright Andrew Upton – his wife is dual Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett, who was one of the first global celebrities to call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war.

A spokeswoman for the theatre company told The Australian that it did not know about the actors’ protest beforehand and that it did not endorse their actions.

Greenwood – who wore the headdress – shared to his Instagram story another user’s photograph of the encore which applauded the actors for taking a stand.

“Big love to Harry Greenwood, Megan Wilding and Mabel Li for wearing traditional keffiyeh (a traditional Arabic headdress),” the re-shared post said.

Harry Greenwood and Sigrid Thornton in The Seagull. Picture: Prudence Upton

“ … In a stance against the continued violence and occupation of the Palestinian people.”

Mr Greenwood is the son of The Matrix and Lord Of The Rings actor Hugo Weaving, who is also one of the company’s foundational directors.

A STC spokeswoman apologised for “any distress caused” by the move.

“The STC does not endorse the actions taken by three actors during the curtain call of the opening night performance of The Seagull, nor did the company have knowledge of their plans,” she said.

The stunt and stance by the actors were slammed by leading Jewish figures across the arts and wider community.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Jillian Segal – one of the nation’s most prominent company directors and philanthropists – said the actors’ pro-Palestine protest threatened to marginalise both Jewish staff at the theatre company and audience members.

“There are many members of the Jewish community, and indeed other ethnic and faith communities, that are proud patrons of the STC and the arts broadly,” she said.

“Theatre is intended to enrich and uplift us, and unite us through the shared love of the art form.”

Hugo Weaving and his son Harry Greenwood in 2015. Picture: Richard Dobson

Ms Segal had served on the Sydney Opera House Trust board, and worked on the Australian Securities Exchange and National Australia Bank boards.

In her philanthropist capacity, among a variety of other causes, she has donated in the past to the STC.

“It is not the place to impose the political views of a few onto the many or to marginalise Jewish audiences and actors,” Ms Segal said.

Ms Segal said she hoped the company would “reflect” and “ensure no future performances are hijacked in this way”.

Former Hoyts CEO and ex-chairman of the National Institute of Dramatic Arts Peter Ivany told The Australian art should never seek to divide.

Jillian Segal. Picture: James Croucher

Peter Ivany.

“The creative industries intend to unite and build bridges in the community,” Mr Ivany, a 40-year veteran of the creative industry, said.

“There’s ample space for expression in the context of the art and creative work itself.”

“But art should not be used as vehicle to alienate and divide the audience.”

Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council public affairs director Walt Secord – who also served as NSW opposition arts spokesman from 2015 to 2022 and is a STC regular – said the actors’ stance was “amateurish” and they should be “embarrassed”.

“I am deeply disappointed to see one of the great theatrical classics seized for misguided political purposes – it is appalling and inexcusable to try to misappropriate Chekhov’s masterpiece,” he said.

“The Seagull is a late-19th century work of genius about class, dissatisfaction with life and lost opportunities in pre-revolutionary Russia – with rich and complex characters.

“It has nothing to do with the Israel-Hamas war, which is about dismantling a genocidal terrorist organisation in Gaza that slaughtered more than 1200 people in southern Israel on October 7 and took 240 hostages.

“The amateurish attempt to try to link The Seagull to the Israel-Hamas war shows how unsophisticated those behind this stunt are and how little they know about the conflict.”

Walt Secord. Picture: Dylan Coker

David Ossip Picture: Monique Harmer

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip called the stance “concerning”.

“The lack of moral clarity is both disturbing and bewildering,” he said.

“Israel, a liberal democracy with a thriving arts sector, was brutally attacked by a proscribed terrorist group that gruesomely murdered, mutilated, raped and captured innocent civilians.

“Israel is now at war trying to rescue its captive civilians … In these circumstance, it is difficult to understand why these performers aren’t demonstrating support for Israel.”

NSW MP John Ruddick had called for a boycott of the company until it had issued an apology for “platforming ignorant and blatant anti-Semitism”.

“Their onstage protest casually ignored the innocent victims of the 7 October attack and the ongoing plight of the hostages,” the upper house Libertarian Party MP said.

“The STC has sided with the side that wants to push Israelis ‘into the sea’ – they are contemporary advocates of the worst episodes in human history.”