A cast member unfolded a Palestinian flag during a Royal Opera House production on Saturday night before a stage manager tried to snatch the flag away, sparking an onstage tussle
This is the moment the Royal Opera House erupted into chaos after a performer unfurled a Palestinian flag onstage.
Social media footage filmed Saturday night shows the brief tussle between the actor with the flag and a stage manager who tried to snatch it off him.
The performer was able to wrestle back the flag and continued to hold it, as the other cast members bowed to the Royal Opera House audience. The incident took place at the at the encore of Il trovatore at the London venue in Covent Garden, which had just finished its 11-night run.
The identity of the cast member is unclear. A witness told the Telegraph: “At the Royal Opera House, one of the cast unfurled a Palestinian flag at the encore.
“Someone from the opera house/company then came on stage from the wings to try to remove the flag from the cast member who wrestled it back and refused to give it up during Il trovatore.”
Some audience members took to social media to express their surprise at the incident.
One wrote: “Extraordinary scenes at the Royal Opera House tonight.
“During the curtain call for Il trovatore one of the background artists came on stage waving a Palestine flag. Just stood there, no bowing or shouting. Someone off stage kept trying to take it off him. Incredible.”
Another said they don’t believe the performer will be working at the Opera House again.
Stephen Ratcliffe wrote: “Controversy at end of Trovatore @rbo_org tonight when an extra/chorus member unfurled a Palestinian flag.
“Off stage manager tried to grapple with him but he held his ground. Bet he won’t be working there again.”
A spokesman for the Royal Ballet and Opera confirmed the waving of the flag was “unauthorised.”
It said: “The display of the flag was spontaneous and unauthorised action by the artist. It was not approved by the Royal Ballet and Opera and is not in line with our commitment to political impartiality.”