Scuffle breaks out after cast member raises Palestinian flag on Royal Opera House stage
Video footage shared on social media showed a brief tussle between the actor who unfurled the flag and a staff member who tried to take it off him.
The actor, who forcefully managed to yank the flag back, then continued to display it as the other cast members bowed to the audience.
The bizarre incident, which took place at the encore of Il trovatore at the London venue in Covent Garden, shocked members of the audience.
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.'
Another on X on Saturday added: '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.'
pic.twitter.com/9zeJu4hdJK
— Syd Cassimaty (@sydcas) July 20, 2025
Opera fan Stephen Ratcliffe, who was also watching the production, on X added: '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 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.'
The waving of the flag has been interpreted as a shocking act of political allegiance, with some comments online calling for the actor to be sacked.
MailOnline has contacted the Royal Ballet and Opera for further comment.
The Royal Opera House and The Royal Opera have His Majesty The King as their official patron.
The company has long been associated with the royals. It officially became 'The Royal Opera' in 1968 when it was awarded a Royal Charter.
Since the construction of the first theater on the site in 1732, opera has been a regular attraction for the elites of Britain.
In recent years, The Royal Opera has given an average of 150 performances per Season of approximately twenty operas.
The main auditorium seats 2,256 people, making it the third largest in London, and consists of four tiers of boxes and balconies and the amphitheatre gallery.
The flag controversy happened during the show which takes place in an imagined 15th century, telling the story of Azucena who claims that in a moment of madness she consigned her own baby to her mother's funeral pyre.
Meanwhile Manrico, her surviving son, is locked in conflict with the Count di Luna for the love of Leonora.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
21 minutes ago
- The Sun
WAG Taylor Ward shares gender of second child with footballer Riyad Mahrez at stunning reveal in Dubai
TAYLOR Ward has shared the gender of her second child with footballer Riyad Mahrez at a stunning Dubai reveal. WAG Taylor, 27, gathered friends and family for the lavish celebration, where she and husband Riyad, 34, opened a giant box to discover they're expecting a baby boy. In a video posted to Instagram, the couple beamed as a burst of blue balloons and smoke billowed into the sky, confirming the exciting news. Guests were seen cheering and clapping as the couple embraced on the beach. The loved-up pair already share daughter Mila, three, and have been documenting their journey to baby number two online. Taylor – daughter of Real Housewives of Cheshire star Dawn Ward – looked effortlessly chic in a fitted cream dress, while Mahrez kept it classic in a matching shirt and trousers. The reveal took place in Dubai, where the couple split their time between the UAE and the UK. In her caption, Taylor wrote: "The most special day, baby boy we can't wait to meet you!!" Taylor recently hinted at her second pregnancy on social media, sharing bump snaps and saying she "couldn't wait" to meet their newest addition. It was just last month that the influencer revealed she's expecting again. Taylor appeared in a sweet video with her hubby and her daughter Mila, two, on Instagram. She held her growing baby bump as she wore a skin-tight white crop top and her denim jeans were undone. Her young daughter kissed her stomach whilst holding the polaroids from the first scan. Riyad proudly posed beside his wife of three years in a matching blue and white outfit. He was seen lovingly embracing his daughter as she got more and more excited in the video. Later, the parents were seen hugging their tot on the sofa - who was born in July 2022 - as they all embraced the prospect of an expanding family. The right winger - who plays for the Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli - has two other children from a previous marriage with internet personality, Rita Johal. His other children were also sat in their stylish lounge as Taylor announced the news. They soon hugged as a blended family of five as they prepare to welcome a new addition. Taylor captioned the post: "Our family is growing," with a white heart emoji. She initially tied the knot with the footballer in an intimate and low-key religious ceremony in January 2022. The duo then officially wed in a legal ceremony in September 2023 at The Londoner Hotel. This was before they celebrated with their family and friends at a lavish ceremony at Lake Como in Italy. 6 6 6 6 6
BBC News
21 minutes ago
- BBC News
Cardiff art class friendships spark joy after brain injury
Alex and Simone are entirely comfortable in one another's company after meeting at an art workshop several years pair have more than a love of creating art in common - both are living with a brain Hughes was just 16 when he was hit over the head with a bottle while on holiday with friends. Simone Hughes was 36 when she had a brain haemorrhage."Nobody knows what it's like unless you have it, it's like a knowledge," said Alex, said meeting Alex and others with brain injuries made her feel less alone and able to "let it all go"."It makes you feel normal," she said. Both Alex and Simone attend The Sketcher Project, weekly art classes for people living with a brain injury at Insole Court in Cardiff. The class is run by artist Beth Morris."We don't just do art, we have a good chat and we're friends, we're family," she said."Alex is the king of banter and it is hysterical, they're just great mates." Back in 2009, Alex had just finished his GSCEs and was on holiday with friends in Puerto de Andratx in Mallorca when he was hit over the head with a bottle. He suffered a brain haemorrhage in the attack, was placed in an induced coma and flown back to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff."For the first six months after the attack I thought it was a dream and then I realised it wasn't and it was real," he said. Before the attack Alex had planned to do A-levels and was thinking of pursuing a career in law but everything friendships fell away, he said, he had countless surgeries and then his father died in 2010. The attack has left him with weakness down his left side and other issues such as fatigue and difficulties with went to college but said he struggled, before working in a call centre alongside volunteering for the charity Marie Curie and Rookwood Hospital, where he was able to support others coming to terms with a brain injury. Seven years ago Alex attended Beth's first ever class for those with brain injuries and has been a regular ever Sketcher Project was the idea of Beth's cousin Rhiannon Stokes who runs Barry-based company Stokes Case Management, and has clients living with brain injuries. Her company now funds the weekly Thursday classes so it is free to attend. "It's like an escape," said Alex, who likes to sketch portraits with Biro."For an hour and a half you just focus on one thing, and it's really lovely here. It's like a retreat really."Alex said he sometimes spotted people looking at him because "I stumble and limp as well so I look like I'm drunk all the time" - but at the art class he never feels judged. Simone, who is married with three children, has been coming to the class for more than two 2020 she was working as a support worker when she got a headache."I'd never had one before," she said."I think it took my balance a little bit and I must have passed out, that's all I remember."Unbeknown to Simone she had the condition arteriovenous malformation (AVM) which had caused a brain spent eight months in hospital where she had to learn to walk and talk again. Today she lives with acquired ataxia which affects co-ordination, balance and said she felt able to share both her good days and her bad days with the friends she has in class."It's very comforting because they know what I'm on about," she said. Asked how life has changed since the haemorrhage, Simone's answer is surprising."It might actually be better," she said."I'm getting out more, I'm meeting so many more people, so I suppose I'm doing things that I would never dream of." Former doctor Manon Skyrme, 55, is also a class regular. She too lives with a brain injury after fracturing her skull, neck, back and pelvis in a fall from a second floor window in 2017. Manon has been enjoying success with her art. She has won prizes at the Royal Welsh Show and one of her patchworks is currently on display at Liberty London. For her, art is a way to keep busy and avoid over-thinking."Art classes mean a lot more to me than the actual artwork," she said."It gives a structure to my week and something to look forward to every Thursday and an amazing new group of friends who are all struggling with similar problems to myself."The frequent coffees and chats with her art friends "means a lot", she Simone and Manon all have their work on display at the Inspired at Insole Summer Exhibition at Insole Court until 8 September.
The Sun
21 minutes ago
- The Sun
Pop star Olivia Rodrigo looks racy in red before enjoying bike ride in London with her beau
POP star Olivia Rodrigo looks racy in red — but took a slower pace on a bike ride with her beau. The 22-year-old Californian was out with English actor Louis Partridge, also 22, on hired electric Lime bikes in West London. 2 She headlined Glastonbury music festival last month and he starred in erotic psychological thriller Disclaimer with Cate Blanchett last year. But the couple went unnoticed by fans as they cycled around the capital. The pair were recently in the Royal Box at Wimbledon together. "I love how nobody judges you for having a pint at noon. "It's the best.' "And I love English sweets. "All the sweets from Marks and Spencer. "Colin the Caterpillar, specifically."
