A scuffle broke out at the Royal Opera House on Saturday after a cast member unfolded a Palestinian flag on 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.
It has been reported by the Telegraph that cast member behind the protest is Daniel Perry, a self-described ‘queer dance artist’, choreographer, and DJ.
Perry studied at the Tring Park School for the Performing Arts in Hertfordshire, which charges up to £16,000 per term for boarding. Its alumni include Dame Julie Andrews and Star Wars actress Daisy Ridley.
A witness told the paper: ‘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.’
A member of staff at the Royal Opera House unfolded a Palestinian flag on stage on Saturday
A scuffle broke out when the cast member who unfolded the flag wrestled it from a member of staff who tried to stop him
It has been reported by the Telegraph that cast member behind the protest is Daniel Perry, a self-described ‘queer dance artist’, choreographer, and DJ
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.’
While the tug-of-war over the flag took place, some cast members further forward on the stage appear not to realise what is happening behind them.
Some officials stood in the wings can be seen shouting messages to the protesting Perry, who looks ahead and appears to ignore them.
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 Perry to be sacked.
has contacted the Royal Ballet and Opera for further comment.
One week ago Perry posted on social media a picture of himself wearing a tank top stating ‘Free Palestine’ to a London performance of Cabaret.
Alongside the picture, Perry posted a lengthy description of their pro-Palestine political views, which ended with a call for theatres to boycott Coca Cola – a brand that has been targeted by some over supposed links to Israel
Perry has around 350 posts on his Instagram page, which is followed by more than 3,000 people
Perry describes themselves as a Queer dance artist, choreographer/movement director and DJ
Perry is understood to be a freelancer hired by the Royal Opera House and not an employee of the venue, according to the Telegraph
Alongside the picture, he posted a lengthy description of his pro-Palestine political views, which ended with a call for theatres to boycott Coca Cola – a brand that has been targeted by some over supposed links to Israel.
He also urged his fellow performers to ‘attend marches’ on Saturdays, even if they have to do a show later in the evening.
Perry is understood to be a freelancer hired by the Royal Opera House and not an employee of the venue, according to the Telegraph.
The Royal Opera House and The Royal Opera have His Majesty The King as their official patron.
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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 theatre 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 Il trovatore 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.