Climate change activists force the Royal Shakespeare Company to cut ties with BP

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has ended its long term sponsorship deal with the energy giant BP. The sponsorship deal that ran for over 8 years provided subsidised tickets to thousands of children and allowed them to attend the theatre for a little as £5 when full price tickets were often as much as £100. BP has this morning stated it is “dismayed” with the RSC’S decision. 

The RSC has come under increasing pressure to end its deal with BP from young climate activists as well as from the public. These protests are part of a wider movement to end oil company’s involvement in the arts more generally. Gregory Doran, the RSC’s artistic director has released a statement that said: “Amidst the climate emergency, which we recognise, young people are now saying clearly to us that the BP sponsorship is putting a barrier between them and their wish to engage with the RSC. We cannot ignore that message.” However, many fear that the end of the subsidised tickets from BP will now make the theatre inaccessible financially for many who have previously been able to attend. UNN’s Oliver Down has twice attempted to make contact with the RSC to ask this question but has been unable to get an answer so far. 

BP has slammed the decision and has cited the “increasing polarisation of debate” for the decision to no longer accept their finance. The full BP statement read “We’re dismayed because we share many of the concerns that apparently contributed to the decision. We recognise the world is on an unsustainable path and needs to transition rapidly to net-zero in the coming decades. The debate centres around how to deliver this whilst meeting the world’s growing energy demands. BP is focused on this dual challenge; we are in action, have ambitious plans for the future and welcome engagement with all about how to make the energy we produce cleaner and better,”. 

Statistics that UNN has obtained from BP show in the eight years of its sponsorship has enabled 80,000 16-25’s to see RSC performances at reduced rates. The removal of these subsidised tickets is a real concern to many and UNN’s Oliver Down has today spoken with RSC. Earlier today Oliver Down spoke with Dean Asker from the RSC and Mr Asker said “Over the coming months we will review the implications for the scheme, and how it might continue in the future.  Offering a ticket scheme for 16-25 year olds is a major priority for us”. However, the future of these accessible tickets for young people is now in grave doubt. 

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