Moment eco-zealots stage protest on opening night of Swan Lake

by · Mail Online

Eco-zealots staged a protest during a theatre performance in London last night after storming the venue dressed as ballerinas before dousing themselves with 'oil'. 

Protesters from Fossil Free London disrupted the opening night of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake at Sadler's Wells Theatre over its ties to Barclays bank. 

The group took to the theatre lobby during the play's interval and began pouring bottles of molasses - 'prop oil' - on two members dressed as ballerinas.

At the same time, other protesters were seen holding a banner that read, 'Cut Ties with Barclays', while chanting: 'Sadler's Wells, drop Barclays' in front of shocked theatregoers.

They were later escorted out of the building by security, while the performance continued uninterrupted. 

Earlier in the night, protesters, also dressed in ballerina costumes, gathered outside the theatre to stage a 'die-in', where they lay on floor next to a banner that read, 'Barclays Funds Bombs and Big Oil'.

Fossil Free London said 'Sadler's Wells has a close relationship with Barclays', for which they accused the theatre of being 'complicit in global suffering and the destruction of our future'. 

Several other Pro-Palestine protest groups including Palestine Action have previously claimed the bank is 'bankrolling' Israel's attacks on Gaza, with dozens of its sites targeted by activists in the past year. 

Two protesters dressed as ballerinas were part of a protest last night at Sadler's Wells Theatre
The group took to the theatre lobby during the play's interval when one protester began pouring bottles of molasses - 'prop oil' - on the two other members dressed in costumes 
Earlier in the night, protesters gathered outside the theatre to stage a 'die-in', where they lay on floor next to a banner that read, 'Barclays Funds Bombs and Big Oil'

Joanna Warrington, campaigner with Fossil Free London, said: 'It's time for Sadler's Wells to stop dancing around the issue.

'By continuing to partner with Barclays, a bank that fuels climate breakdown and genocide, Sadler's Wells is complicit in global suffering and the destruction of our future. 

'This sponsorship lets Barclays hide behind a veil of corporate responsibility, while it continues business as usual, bankrolling the industries driving environmental devastation and violence across the world.

'Art holds immense power to inspire change and shape our world for the better, but it's meaningless if we don't act to protect the future it imagines. 

'Sadler's Wells must choose: uphold the values of art and humanity, or remain complicit in the destruction and greed that threatens us all.' 

A spokesperson for Sadler's Wells said: 'A peaceful demonstration took place outside the auditorium last night. 

'The performance was uninterrupted, though we apologise for any disruption to our audiences.'

A Barclays spokesperson said: 'Like many other banks, we provide financial services to companies supplying defence products to the UK, Nato and its allies. 

Shocked theatregoers watch on as two protesters dressed as ballerinas are doused in 'oil'
Other protesters from the same group can be seen lying on the pavement after staging a 'die in' earlier in the night

'Barclays is also committed to providing the finance to meet current energy needs while financing the scaling of clean energy, delivering against our target to facilitate $1trn of Sustainable and Transition Finance by 2030.

'Public arts funding has been under pressure for many years, and many businesses have stepped in to plug the gap. 

'A vibrant and well-funded arts and culture scene is vital to the UK. 

'By targeting corporate sponsors directly, or indirectly via artists, authors and promoters, every sponsored event is at risk.”