The Royal Ballet and Opera (RBO) has been accused of discrimination after it cancelled a production of Tosca, to be performed in Tel Aviv next year.

UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) has written to the RBO, one of the most prestigious arts institutions in the UK, pointing out that it is in breach of UK Equality law, because it is discriminating against Israelis in the provision of its services.

The decision by the RBO to cancel comes after 182 members of staff at RBO signed an open letter on 1 August, demanding that the organization “withhold productions from institutions that legitimize and economically support a state engaged in the mass killing of civilians,” and that it should “reject current or future performances in Israel.”

On 19 July a freelance cast member at the opera, Danni Perry, unfurled a Palestinian flag on stage at the end of a performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s Il Trovatore.  At the time he was reprimanded by the Opera’s chief executive, and reportedly told he would never work again there.  However, the 182 members of staff who signed the open letter expressed support for this freelancer, calling the curtain call protest an “act of courage and moral clarity”.

The signatories of the RBO letter also objected to free tickets being given to soldiers of the Israeli Defense Forces ‘in recognition of their work’, as stated on their website.

There have been various reasons given for the cancellation, ranging from pressure from performers not to perform in Israel to safety concerns for staff.

UKLFI’s letter points out that the RBO’s decision to cancel the production discriminates against the Israeli public.  It therefore breaches Section 29 (1) of the Equality Act 2010 which says “A person (a “service-provider”) concerned with the provision of a service to the public or a section of the public (for payment or not) must not discriminate against a person requiring the service by not providing the person with the service.”

The RBO’s decision discriminates directly against Israelis and indirectly against Jews since most Israelis are Jews. Israeli nationality and Jewish ethnicity and religion are protected characteristics under the Equality Act.

A UKLFI spokesperson said “The Royal Opera House is blatantly discriminating against Israeli members of the public, by refusing to perform the opera for them and breaching UK equality legislation.

The Royal Opera House should be a place for cultural appreciation, and its artistic works should raise artistic awareness here and across the globe.  It is no place for making political statements.

By refusing to perform in Israel, the Royal Opera House is increasing division and hatred in this country, and across the globe.”