Writer Ruth Ritchie resigns from Sydney Theatre Company board as Seagull protest fallout continues

Writer and playwright Ruth Ritchie has resigned from the board of Sydney Theatre Company amid the fallout from a pro-Palestine keffiyeh scarf protest by actors.

Harry Greenwood (R) along with co-stars Megan Wilding (2nd R) and Mabel Li (L) wore keffiyeh scarves during the encore at the opening night of the STC production of The Seagull at Sydney’s Roslyn Packer Theatre on November 25. Picture: Instagram

Writer and playwright Ruth Ritchie has resigned from the board of the embattled Sydney Theatre Company amid the furore and fallout from a pro-Palestine keffiyeh scarf protest by some of the actors of its flagship production The Seagull.

It brings the number of resignations as a result from the actors’ stance – and much-criticised STC response – to three after PR veteran Judi Hausmann and Alex Schuman, son of fashion icon Carla Zampatti, previously both quit the foundation board.

It comes as thousands of actors, musicians and theatre-makers have signed up to a call to wear Palestinian scarfs on stages across the country on Wednesday.

In her resignation letter to the STC’s foundation board, since obtained by The Australian, Ms Ritchie appeared to take aim at a “silence” that had emanated from the company – and high-profile board – after the encore incident on November 25.

“This group (the foundation board) has not corresponded in response to the debacle that has unfolded since the Seagull opening night protest – I have probably read too much into the awkward silence,” Ms Ritchie wrote to the board.

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

The board also includes actors Mia Wasikowska and Heather Mitchell, performer Tim Minchin and philanthropists Gretel Packer and Frances Ingham, as well as actor Hugo Weaving, father of one the protesters, Harry Greenwood.

“This is the time for awkward difficult conversations,” she wrote.

“We are all either artists, philanthropists or simply people who care passionately about the power and importance of art in this country. There will be another ‘Seagull Three’ at your beloved ballet, museum, symphony, theatre, festival or library. Let’s not canonise or demonise artists or be surprised by their protest.”

Ms Ritchie asked whether the board had been silent because it “didn’t want to fall out with the artists” saying “robust disagreement” should be welcomed.

“Have we been silent because we are afraid and paralysed,” she asked.

“If you don’t feel confident about your position on the war, rights to free speech, or the place for appropriate protest, do the homework, examine your conscience and step up to listen and to speak.

Writer Ruth Ritchie has resigned from the Sydney Theatre Company's foundation board. Picture: Garvan Research Foundation

“Have we been silent in the hope this will blow over? It will not. It is blowing up.”

Ms Ritchie criticised the silence upon Ms Hausmann and Mr Schuman’s resignations, saying she would miss their “talent, energy and enormous contributions”.

“And I’m sad they didn’t hear our empathy for the very difficult choice to resign,” she wrote.

Ms Ritchie also referenced Mr Minchin taking to the stage in Canberra to give a statement on the protest furore, although the artist himself has distanced himself from reports describing what he said, if anything.

Harry Greenwood in The Seagull. Mr Greenwood is actor Hugo Weaving’s son, who is also on the STC board. Picture: Prudence Upton

“We are in dangerous times when ‘speaking truth to power’ equates to giant-slaying, left wing activist Tim Minchin challenging a gesture by three junior cast members in the cast of a Chekhov production I will never see,” she wrote.

“Can we look at who has the power right now? It’s not bewildered Jewish theatre goers, intimidated and triggered in the place they love, support and usually feel safe.”

The resignation follows a fortnight of turbulence for the STC.

After three of The Seagull’s cast donned keffiyehs on opening night a host of Jewish leaders criticised the actors and company, which saw an open letter with thousands of signatories sent to the STC demanding an explanation and more thorough apology.

Donors said they’d pull funding before the company issued a full public apology on November 29, apologising to patrons and saying that creating a safe space trumped personal freedoms.

The performance of The Seagull that night, set to start only a few hours after the statement was issued, was then promptly cancelled.

The STC, although remaining silent since that apology, has since been in relative damage control although Ms Ritchie’s resignation prolongs the high-profile fallout it has become engulfed in.