Protesters disrupt Swan Lake at Sadlers Wells opening night

Fossil Free London protesters were escorted out of Sadler's Wells Theatre after disrupting the interval during Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake on Tuesday night (December 3).

Ten activists dressed in Swan Lake costumes had earlier staged a "die-in" outside the theatre in Rosebery Avenue next to a banner that read, "Barclays Funds Bombs and Big Oil". 

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They handed leaflets to theatre goers explaining their demand that the venue cut its ties with Barclays over the bank's funding of fossil fuels and arms.

Fossil Free London demands Sadler's Well Theatre sever ties with Barclays Bank (Image: Talia Woodin/Fossil Free London)

The group said Sadler’s Wells has a close relationship with Barclays, which is one of the theatre’s main sponsors and that Nigel Higgins, the chair of the Sadler’s Wells board of trustees, also serves as the chairman of Barclays.

Joanna Warrington, a campaigner with Fossil Free London, said Barclays was one of Europe’s biggest fossil fuel financiers, funding oil companies including Shell and BP and also loaned money to firms manufacturing weapons.

“It’s time for Sadler’s Wells to stop dancing around the issue," she added.

Fossil Free London staged a 'die-in' outside Sadler's Wells on the opening night of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake (Image: Talia Woodin/Fossil Free London)

“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."

The Barclays chairman has not responded.