Sir Mark Rylance quits Royal Shakespeare Company over BP sponsorship

Sir Mark Rylance has been connected with the company for 30 years
Getty Images
Megan White21 June 2019

Renowned actor Sir Mark Rylance has quit the Royal Shakespeare Company over its sponsorship from BP.

The Oscar-winning star of stage and screen ended his relationship with the theatre company after 30 years citing environmental concerns.

Sir Rylance has objected to the RSC taking money from BP, which he has accused of obscuring its damaging environmental impact by supporting arts organisations.

The oil giant subsidises £5 tickets for young people at the theatre company.

Sir Mark Rylance has quit the Royal Shakespeare Company over its receipt of sponsorship from BP
PA

Writing in The Guardian, the Shakespearean actor said he first expressed concern about the partnership in 2012, before submitting a question to the company's AGM in 2017.

But he said: "Today I feel I must dissociate myself from the RSC, not because it is any less of a theatre company, but because of the company it keeps."

Sir Rylance added on BP: "Does this company have the right to associate itself with Shakespeare?

"Does it even have the right to have the word 'British' in its name when it is arguably destroying the planet our children and grandchildren will depend on to breathe, drink, eat and survive?"

The actor has called on the RSC to set a positive example for the future of sponsorship in the arts.

Mark Rylance attends the world premiere of Dunkirk at Odeon Leicester Square
Dave Benett

He last appeared on stage with the RSC in Romeo and Juliet in 1989 but was an associate artist with the company.

Gregory Doran, RSC artistic director, and Catherine Mallyon, RSC executive director, released a statement following the news.

They said: "We are saddened that Mark Rylance has decided he can no longer be one of our Associate Artists, but we respect his decision. We thank him for his long association with the company.

"Importantly, no sponsor influences or drives our artistic decision making and we are committed to exploring contemporary issues and ideas in all our work. We have a clear donation and sponsorship acceptance policy and consider potential offers of support individually.

"We recognise the importance of a robust and engaged debate in taking these decisions, especially in the light of the acknowledged environment and climate emergency.

"Corporate sponsorship is an important part of our funding, alongside ticket sales, public investment, private philanthropy and commercial activity.

"BP's sponsorship of our £5 ticket scheme for 16-25 year olds gives many young people the chance to see our work, and the scheme is highly valued by our audiences."

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