Aida
Theatre companies in the UK have been warned not to collaborate with Russian state-backed partners.
Following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, advice has been given to theatre companies by The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and UK Theatre following meetings with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). They suggest that it would not be “appropriate” for theatres to collaborate with Russian state backed partners for at least a year. The advice also applied to companies backed by the Belarus state.
UK Theatre and SOLT told The Stage: “Our advice is that collaborations with Russian or Belarussian state or state-backed companies, or UK tours by Russian or Belarussian state or state-backed companies, are not appropriate.”
They added that the suggested rules do not apply to individuals. “We are not advising any change in status for individual freelancers or performers from those nations.”
The Secretary of State for Culture, Nadine Dorries has been calling for boycotts or Russian cultural activities since the Russian regime invaded Ukraine nearly two weeks ago.
Last week, London-based Xameleon Theatre, a company that works with theatre-makers from Russian-speaking countries and puts on shows in Russian in London expressed its support for Ukraine. “We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian nation.”