Dear Royal Shakespeare Company,
We, the undersigned, stand in solidarity with the youth strikers and agree wholeheartedly with everything stated in their recent letter.
We fully support their call for a boycott of the RSC unless BP’s sponsorship is dropped. We also fully support Mark Rylance's recent decision to resign as an RSC Associate Artist in protest at the ongoing BP sponsorship deal.
We make this call as artists and creatives who love the RSC – who have been inspired by its shows as kids, and for whom working on its stages means the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. However, it damages our community when our work allows BP to appear as philanthropists, just as climate breakdown wreaks havoc in the Global South - impacting the poorest and most vulnerable - and threatens further global devastation in the near future.
Having the branding of oil companies such as BP present in theatres and civic spaces reinforces the unhelpful image that they are somehow a necessary part of our culture - an impression we must desperately move away from if we want any hope of imagining and actualising a more sustainable society.
As the youth strikers note:
‘This sponsorship deal allows BP to pretend that it cares about young people by giving them “the chance to be inspired by amazing live performances and kindle a lifelong love of theatre”. In reality, BP is jeopardising the futures of the young people they apparently care so much about, by continuing to extract huge quantities of oil and gas.
‘BP is top of the list of companies blocking climate action in Europe, and spends tens of millions of pounds every year on lobbying around the world.
‘97% of BP’s capital investment remains in oil and gas, and they plan on spending £41 billion on exploring for new oil in the next decade. As an organisation that appears to care about climate breakdown, it simply makes no sense for the Royal Shakespeare Company to accept sponsorship from a company that is the third biggest corporate source of greenhouse gases in history.’
We the undersigned commit to the following until BP is dropped as a sponsor:
- Not to see work at the RSC
- Not to accept work from the RSC
- To encourage our friends and families not to work for or see work at the RSC
We do not say this in anger or righteousness. We are all together in this crisis; culture is powerful, and we as a community have the opportunity to positively influence people with the choices we make. But we must act now. To wait any longer is climate crisis denial.
The RSC has the chance to inspire us once again.
We know you will do the right thing.
Updates
October 1, 2019
The scale of this response is shifting the conversation with the board. I am currently finalizing a formal letter to the RSC leadership to demand a meeting regarding the terms of this sponsorship.
10 Comments
Solidarity with the youth strikers call to action. It is imperative to take real action and stop the greenwashing of the fossil fuel industry. I have always loved the RSC for inspiring me as a kid and then for giving me my first job with Dunsinane and then my dream job with Wendy & Peter Pan, but we cannot afford to be cowardly right now. We need decisive action and I know that the RSC will now do the right thing. Love and solidarity all. Sam x
Sponsorship of an institution as beloved as the RSC gives BP the social license to appear as a responsible, philanthropic company while it profits from the human suffering caused by the burning of fossil fuels. We wouldn’t accept money from a tobacco or arms company - nor should we from an oil company. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. Our house is on fire - let’s act like it. I hope the RSC - a theatre I’ve loved since a kid - will do the right thing.
Please drop it for our children's future.
I love the RSC too, but the ends never justify the means. Global warning is too vicious & BP harm our planet every day.
I agree, The RSC was an inspiration to me as a young person and actor. We need the perspective of Shakespeare's plays more than ever to help us prepare for the dramatic exile from our way of life that we are about to experience. Please, all artists at The RSC, separate Shakespeare from the dishonest green wash of BP. Three cheers for all our young people engaging with their future, challenging all of us who have let this situation slide so badly near the cliffedge.
For a long time the RSC have been refusing to end BP sponsorship, despite all the arguments against it. Enough! The young people you claim to benefit don’t want cheap tickets that cost the earth. Things have changed, and are changing fast. Drop BP now.
We are in climate crisis. Culture plays a hugely influential role in society. It is therefore irresponsible to let our theatres act as advertising platforms for companies like BP, who have contributed to and continue to perpetuate climate catastrophe. Come on RSC - you know what to do ✊
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Copy link or share directly
Dear Royal Shakespeare Company,
We, the undersigned, stand in solidarity with the youth strikers and agree wholeheartedly with everything stated in their recent letter.
We fully support their call for a boycott of the RSC unless BP’s sponsorship is dropped. We also fully support Mark Rylance's recent decision to resign as an RSC Associate Artist in protest at the ongoing BP sponsorship deal.
We make this call as artists and creatives who love the RSC – who have been inspired by its shows as kids, and for whom working on its stages means the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. However, it damages our community when our work allows BP to appear as philanthropists, just as climate breakdown wreaks havoc in the Global South - impacting the poorest and most vulnerable - and threatens further global devastation in the near future.
Having the branding of oil companies such as BP present in theatres and civic spaces reinforces the unhelpful image that they are somehow a necessary part of our culture - an impression we must desperately move away from if we want any hope of imagining and actualising a more sustainable society.
As the youth strikers note:
‘This sponsorship deal allows BP to pretend that it cares about young people by giving them “the chance to be inspired by amazing live performances and kindle a lifelong love of theatre”. In reality, BP is jeopardising the futures of the young people they apparently care so much about, by continuing to extract huge quantities of oil and gas.
‘BP is top of the list of companies blocking climate action in Europe, and spends tens of millions of pounds every year on lobbying around the world.
‘97% of BP’s capital investment remains in oil and gas, and they plan on spending £41 billion on exploring for new oil in the next decade. As an organisation that appears to care about climate breakdown, it simply makes no sense for the Royal Shakespeare Company to accept sponsorship from a company that is the third biggest corporate source of greenhouse gases in history.’
We the undersigned commit to the following until BP is dropped as a sponsor:
- Not to see work at the RSC
- Not to accept work from the RSC
- To encourage our friends and families not to work for or see work at the RSC
We do not say this in anger or righteousness. We are all together in this crisis; culture is powerful, and we as a community have the opportunity to positively influence people with the choices we make. But we must act now. To wait any longer is climate crisis denial.
The RSC has the chance to inspire us once again.
We know you will do the right thing.
Updates
October 1, 2019
The scale of this response is shifting the conversation with the board. I am currently finalizing a formal letter to the RSC leadership to demand a meeting regarding the terms of this sponsorship.
10 Comments
I love the RSC and deeply cherish my memories with them as both an actor and a punter. Their work is vital in the cultural landscape. I support their desire to make tickets for young people affordable, however I sincerely hope they will find the means to continue such a programme through partnership with a more ethical benefactor than BP and until they break those ties I will support the boycott in solidarity with the youth strikers. Xx
Solidarity with the youth strikers call to action. It is imperative to take real action and stop the greenwashing of the fossil fuel industry. I have always loved the RSC for inspiring me as a kid and then for giving me my first job with Dunsinane and then my dream job with Wendy & Peter Pan, but we cannot afford to be cowardly right now. We need decisive action and I know that the RSC will now do the right thing. Love and solidarity all. Sam x
Sponsorship of an institution as beloved as the RSC gives BP the social license to appear as a responsible, philanthropic company while it profits from the human suffering caused by the burning of fossil fuels. We wouldn’t accept money from a tobacco or arms company - nor should we from an oil company. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. Our house is on fire - let’s act like it. I hope the RSC - a theatre I’ve loved since a kid - will do the right thing.
Please drop it for our children's future.
I love the RSC too, but the ends never justify the means. Global warning is too vicious & BP harm our planet every day.
I agree, The RSC was an inspiration to me as a young person and actor. We need the perspective of Shakespeare's plays more than ever to help us prepare for the dramatic exile from our way of life that we are about to experience. Please, all artists at The RSC, separate Shakespeare from the dishonest green wash of BP. Three cheers for all our young people engaging with their future, challenging all of us who have let this situation slide so badly near the cliffedge.
For a long time the RSC have been refusing to end BP sponsorship, despite all the arguments against it. Enough! The young people you claim to benefit don’t want cheap tickets that cost the earth. Things have changed, and are changing fast. Drop BP now.
We are in climate crisis. Culture plays a hugely influential role in society. It is therefore irresponsible to let our theatres act as advertising platforms for companies like BP, who have contributed to and continue to perpetuate climate catastrophe. Come on RSC - you know what to do ✊
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach 100 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via .
Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
I love the RSC and deeply cherish my memories with them as both an actor and a punter. Their work is vital in the cultural landscape. I support their desire to make tickets for young people affordable, however I sincerely hope they will find the means to continue such a programme through partnership with a more ethical benefactor than BP and until they break those ties I will support the boycott in solidarity with the youth strikers. Xx