Leading lights demand Almeida Theatre cut ties with Bloomberg over war crimes

Jack Reynor, Billy Howle, Zoe Telford and Caryl Churchill are among leading lights of theatre and screen demanding Islington’s Almeida Theatre end its partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies over its “links to human rights violations and war crimes” and in particular, its “direct and ongoing support for illegal settlements” in the occupied Palestinian West Bank.

In the letter published below, 435 theatre and arts professionals, forty of whom have current or historic links to the theatre – including former associate director Ben Harrison, actors Tamara Lawrance, MyAnna Buring and Hayley Carmichael, composer Jocelyn Pook and writer David Farr – say the issue was raised privately with the theatre months ago, but that the theatre failed to act on the information it was given.

The letter details the training, co-funded by Bloomberg, of Israeli municipal officials, “including those governing illegal Israeli settlements such as Modi’in Illit and Mateh Binyamin” which operate through “land theft, home demolitions, and forced displacement of Palestinians” and are war crimes under international law.

Ellora Torchia, who appeared at the Almeida last year, said:
“The Almeida’s lack of accountability shows just how deep the erasure of integrity within arts institutions has run, and whilst this happens, children die, people are displaced, and humanity dissipates”.

TV star Zoe Telford said, “Our voices are needed now to make clear that we will not tolerate links to any company supporting the continuing onslaught of violence in Palestine.”

The letter goes on to say the Almeida, a charity, is failing to follow Charity Commission guidelines by ignoring its own ethical fundraising policy, which states that the theatre does not:

“accept donations from companies or individuals linked to arms or with historic links to war crimes or regimes known or suspected to be in violation of human rights.”

Sean Biggerstaff of Harry Potter fame, and Massive Attack’s Robert del Naja are among those urging the Almeida to end its partnership with Bloomberg and to “seek a viable alternative sponsor”. 

The artists say: 

“When institutions accept funding from those directly implicated in human rights violations, it legitimises their actions. It normalises the unacceptable.”

The timing, they say, is “more urgent than ever”. Miriam Margolyes, another signatory to the letter, says, 

“It seems that every day we are witnessing a genocide in Palestine, in real time and we are doing nothing to end it. All theatres, all institutions have the power to act. We must do better.”

Pictured: Tamara Lawrance, Jack Reynor, Ellora Torchia, Zoe Telford.

READ THE LETTER IN FULL

To the Artistic and Executive Team at the Almeida Theatre,

We write as artists and cultural workers committed to human rights and social justice.  While atrocities amounting to what Amnesty International identifies as the crime of genocide deepen in Gaza, and violence against Palestinians escalates across the West Bank, we seek clarity and accountability over the Almeida’s partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies.

We are not the first to question this partnership. Artists at the Almeida, including some of the signatories to this letter, raised their concerns some months ago – but this has not led to constructive change. In these even more desperate times, we now renew the effort to bring that change about. 

The Almeida’s Ethical Policy

The Almeida’s ethical fundraising policy states:

“The Almeida does not solicit or accept donations from companies or individuals linked to arms or with historic links to war crimes or regimes known or suspected to be in violation of human rights.”

We believe this is a principled commitment: it acknowledges the responsibility cultural institutions have in aligning their funding sources with their values and by extension, with the work they produce.  

The Almeida is undermining its own policy by receiving donations from Bloomberg Philanthropies —  a ‘company’ with ongoing links to human rights violations and war crimes. A company founded and funded by Michael Bloomberg, a defender of those crimes.

The Evidence is Clear, and the Contradiction with the Theatre’s Ethical Policy Undeniable 

·       Direct and ongoing support for illegal settlements: Bloomberg Philanthropies, in partnership with the Sagol Family, established the Bloomberg-Sagol Centre for City Leadership at Tel Aviv University. This centre provides leadership training to municipal officials, including those governing illegal Israeli settlements such as Modi’in Illit and Mateh Binyamin in the occupied West Bank. These settlements expand through land theft, home demolitions, and forced displacement of Palestinians; a system condemned as apartheid, found illegal by the International Court of Justice in July 2024 and described by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human rights as a war crime.

·       Yisrael Gantz,  a direct beneficiary: Yisrael Gantz is head of the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council, the largest network of illegal settlements in the West Bank. A now-deleted PR from Bloomberg Philanthropies shows that he directly benefited from the Bloomberg-Sagol training programme, as one of its first ‘graduates’. With his self-declared aim of ‘integrating Judaea and Samaria (the West Bank) into the State of Israel in all areas’, his leadership actively supports settlement expansion, and thus endorses war crimes.  

·       Michael Bloomberg’s active public support for military aggression: Michael Bloomberg (founder and principal benefactor) has consistently used his platform and financial influence to justify Israel’s military actions in Gaza. In 2014, he publicly opposed a U.S. flight ban to Israel during its military offensive, demonstrating support for the state’s bombardment of Palestinian civilians. He  publicly defended the shelling of a United Nations school, a war crime, resulting in the deaths of children.

The Almeida is Failing to Follow Charity Commission Guidance 

The Charity Commission tells charities that they should ‘know what their donor’s business is’. They should assure themselves that the organisations which fund them are appropriate to be involved with. It is clear that in the case of Bloomberg Philanthropies the Almeida can’t assure itself of any such thing. If the theatre regards its ethical policy as a meaningful and necessary commitment, then knowledge of Bloomberg’s activities should stir it to immediate action. 

What Should Happen Now

Over many months, artists and cultural workers have been pressing the Almeida for transparency, accountability and change. We now urge the Almeida to end its partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies and seek a viable alternative sponsor. This would uphold  the Almeida’s ethical policy and demonstrate that the theatre’s commitment to human rights is unbroken. If the Almeida believes the association with Bloomberg Philanthropies does not violate its ethical standards, it should publicly present detailed, verifiable evidence that directly contradicts the record of Bloomberg’s complicity and the findings of the UN, Amnesty International, and the International Court of Justice regarding human rights violations. The Almeida must explain how this evidence aligns with its policy.

This is not an unreasonable demand. It is a call for integrity. The Almeida is an outstanding institution deserving of continued success — provided it flourishes on a solid foundation of ethical principles.

Why This Matters Now 

When institutions accept donations from those directly implicated in human rights violations it legitimises their actions. It normalises the unacceptable. With the global rise of the far right threatening the lives and livelihoods of racialised, marginalised and vulnerable communities everywhere, standing up for international law and human rights has never been more important. 

The Almeida’s failure to change course in the face of clear evidence risks contributing to a culture of complicity and complacency; if we do not ethically scrutinise our institutions, we undermine our collective ability to challenge injustice. 

The timing of our choices is more urgent than ever.

We ask you to act now.

Yours Sincerely,

HassanAbdulrazzakPlaywright
MichaelAbubakarActor
DaniAbulhawaDirector, performer, academic
MojisolaAdebayoWriter, performer, director, academic
SabaAhmedWriter
SalmanAkhtarActor
IssamAl GhussainActor
YasmineAl massriActress, producer
HeatherAldersonArtist
LailaAljActor & producer
JacquelineAlkemaPainter
TasnimAminArtist and theatre maker
AmirAmiraniFilm Director
AlmiroAndradeActor, dramaturg, director, translatorUniversity of the Arts London
LotteAndriessenActor
JadeAnoukaActor
VasilikiAntonopoulouartist
KateArnoldMusician
BarbaraAshArtist
SteveAshleysinger-songwriter
WillAttenboroughActor & Co-founderGreen Rider
CamilleAubryIllustrator
RaziaAzizWriter, vocalist, musician, sound artistWaytu
domobaalart gallery director
ElizabethBaileyProgramme Producer
KulwinderBajarArtist and Educator
TonyBakerMusicianTwos Company
SarahBeddingtonFilmmaker and artist
DavidBellamyArtist
AlfredaBengeArtist
CliveBennettMusic producerUniversal Music Group. BBC
DaliBenssalahActor
MarcusBerdautCreative ProducerThe Upsetters
CarolineBergvallwriter and scholar
ShaanBevanartist
AkshayBhoanArtist
GiovanniBienneActor, Equity Councillor
SeanBiggerstaffActor
NanouBlair GouldActor, writer
KelvinBlandChartered Architect, retired
BecBoeyWriter
AndrewBoltonMural artistCommunity Murals CIC
AliceBonnotArt curator
IsaacBoothmanComposer, performer
PatriciaBorlenghiWriter
WilliamBowlesWriter
AstridBreelResearcherBath Spa university
HaimBresheeth-ZabnerDocumentary film
KevinBrodiePlaywright
CressidaBrownTheatre Director
AndrewBuglassPainter
NoëlBurchfilm-maker/writer
MyAnnaBuringActor
Tam DeanBurnActor
JudithBurrowsArtist
YasminButtTheatre booking co-ordination
OmarBynonActor
MagsByrneArtistic DirectorDU Dance (NI)
KevinCadwallenderPoet
DavidCalderActor
ToniaCampbellActor
Anthony VahniCapildeoWriter and performer
HayleyCarmichaelActor
BethCarterArtist
AnnaCarteretActor
GiuliaCasalinicurator
An-TingChangComposer
Bernard JCharnleyArtist
ShaistaChishtyArtist/ researcher
PennyChivasDancer
CarylChurchillPlaywright
MorphydClarkActor
JackieCluneActor
SinzianaCojocarescuArtistic DirectorBÉZNĂ Theatre
JulianColeFilmmaker
BradleyColeWriter and actor
SteveConlanPhotographer
PeterCooperSpoken Word
KiaCorthronplaywright
LindseyCoulsonActor
JosephCowardWriter and musicianDeath Kit
BillyCowiechoreographer
KateCoxChoreographer/ Dancer
IanCrossonActor
GregCullenPlaywright, Director, ActorShocknAwe Performance Co
NeilD’SouzaActor / Writer
SelmaDabbaghwriter
TopherDaggTechnician
billdaggsartist
BerryDainesPrintmaker
EutonDaleyDirector and Producer
Amy LuiseDaneelFilmmaker
JillDanielsFilmmaker
OluwatosinDanijuTheatre Photographer
RubiaDarFilmmaker
WendyDavidsonArtist
MarcelleDaviesDrama School Teacher, retired
LoraDaviesWriter
AprilDe AngelisPlaywright
Eccyde JongeWriter
Dande la MottePerformer & Equity Councillor
Andyde la TourWriter, actor
SereneDebsInstallation artist
PucciDeeMusician, promoter, band manager
RobertDel NajaartistMassive Attack
AnneDennisTheatre director Drama lecturer
AliceDevineArt Director
LuanaDi Pasqualewriter/director
MandeepDillonArtist
JoanaDionísioProducer
ToralDixitFilmmaker
RachelDobbsArtist
EllieDomoneySeamstress
JohnDonaldsonSinger songwriter.
CarolDrinkwaterWriter/Actress
PepaDuarteActor
TheresaEastonCommunity ArtistArtists Union England member
EssamEdrissActor
GretchenEgolfActor
SuhaylaEl-BushraWriter
YasminElderbyWriter
DavidExcoffierArtist
RanaFadaviSet designer
JamesFagan-KingMusician
IwanFaimanMedia producer
TeresaFairminerMakeup artist
AmaaniFarahArtist
MarciaFarquharArtist
DavidFarrWriter
TaraFatehiactor, performance maker
CatherineFillouxplaywright librettistCatherine Filloux
SylviaFinziVisual artist
RickFootMusician
NaomiFoyleWriterUniversity of Chichester
EmmaFranklandPlaywright
JaneFrereArtistDruimarts
BethFriedenActor
ElizabethFullertonArt writer, critic
AliceGale-FeenyArtist, performer, Lecturer
KennethGallagberArtist
JohnGarnerMusician
CarmelGeorgePerformer/Director
KadijaGeorgewriter /researcher
ParhamGhalamddarArtistThe New Centre for Research & Practice
RababGhazoulArtist/Curatorgentle/radical
LeahGordonArtistGhetto Biennale
ShenaghGovanActor & Equity Councillor
TonyGrahamTheatre Director
JohnGraham Daviesactor, writer
EllenGraubartArtist
RachelGravesArts worker
RemiGravesWriter
LeliaGreciArts Programme & Partnerships Manager
Ruth MargaridaGrego VieiraArtist
AtheneGreigArtist
RahilaGuptaWriter
ChrisGutkindWriter
JohnHaidarDirector and writer
RobertHambergerWriter
RidaHamidouPlaywright
MarinaHamptonActor
LauraHannaPerformer
SaraHaqVisual artist
RobertHardingSculptor
JamesHarkerPlaywright
BenHarrisonDirector and PlaywrightGrid Iron & former Associate Director, Almeida
ZainabHasanActressEquity council
AndrewHawkinsActor & writer
RobertHelsonmusicianFreetone Records
JoyceHendersonActor
CatherineHerbertArts worker
LizHeronWriter
SamuelHertzComposer
JoeHillMultidisciplinary Artist
RubyHirschVisual artist
SamHoareActor
JohnHodgrRetired
AnnieHodsonPlaywright
TheresaHoffmannActor
ZitaHolbournePoet, Visual Artist, Author
Young InHongArtist
FionaHopeMusician, artist
RouaHoraniehPlaywright
KirstyHousleyTheatre maker
GemmaHowellWriter
BillyHowleActor
JessieHuckinTheatre and Film Designer
SteveHudsonWriter and director
RoneeHuiArtist
StarHusseinPhotographer/Artist
Matilda FeyiṣayọIbiniPlaywright and filmmaker
HassanIssaActor
OliveJamesActor
KateJangraFilm maker
ThusithaJayasunderaActor
TomJeffreysWriter
AntonyJohnpoet
DanielJohnsonmusician
IsabelJonesArtistic DirectorSalamanda Tandem
SueJonesCasting Director
KhaledKcomposer and musician
AneilKariaDirector
VictoriaKarlssonArtist
TajKaurActor
AkiKaurismäkiFilm director
YroKazaraartist
BrigidKeenanWriter
AidanKellyActor
ChloeKennedyDirector, Teacher
JennieKermodeauthor and journalist
NoreenKershawDirector/Actor
AmalKhalidiWriter and Performer
HannahKhalilPlaywright
EllenKingArtist
PeterKingpoet, translator
KarisKizito-McParlandArtist
AdamKossoffFilmmaker
LoraKrastevaArtist
ZaffarKunialPoet
FreyKwa HawkingCritic, dramaturgDramaturgs’ Network, BECTU
TabbyLambPlaywrightTheatre Queers
RuthLassActor
JenniferLauren MartinWriter/Director
nialllavigneArtist
TamaraLawranceActor
AlexLawtherActor/filmmaker
MikeLaywardArtist
JamesLeadbitterArtist
EdwardLeeProducer/Director
MikeLeighFilm Director & Dramatist
AbuLeilaWriter
AvaLeoncavallocomposerA Portal to Jump Through
LesLevidowmusician and academicCafe Palestina Ensemble; Open University researcher
MarshaLevinePhotographer
KarenLewisactor
SophieLewistranslator, editor
PippaLittlePoet
KenLoachFilm Director
LizLochheadPlaywright, occasional director
alistairloganmusician
AlexandraLort PhillipsProducer and General ManagerYard Heads International
GarryLoughlinArtist
ElinorLowerdirector
RachelLowtherartist
AlexisLykiardWriter
NinaLyndonTheatre MakerHackney Showroom
MaeveMackinnonSinger
LaylaMadanatProducer/Director
SimonMaddrellWriter
SeanMaguireWriter
LouiseMalcolmArt Historian
PaulMallonActor
RebeccaManson JonesArtistic DirectorSpare Tyre
SerenaManteghiActor
PreethiManuelWriter
LaraManwaringCasting director
MiriamMargolyesActress
JanMartinWriter/Illustrator
GhaithMarzokiStenographer
SaraMasryActor
ChloeMasseyActorEquity
JosephMawleactor
JamieMcCarthyMusician / Composer
KathleenMcCreeryplaywright, actor, director, theatre historian
PhilMcFaddenArtist, writer, lecturer
TerenceMcGinityActor/sculptor
KitMcGuireactor, playwright, director
GavinMcIntoshPainter
CaitlinMcLeodDirector
LouiseMcVeyArtist
JamalMehmoodWriter
LeilaMimmackActor
PhillMinnsChairBest Foot Music: Refugee & Migrant Music
YassineMkhichenActor
GiulianoModarelliMusicianKefaya
GiulianoModarelliMusician
KaajalModiArtist
RachelMoorhouseCreative Director
LisaMoorishActor
JennyMorganFilmmaker
CherylMoskowitzWriter
RoyMowattMusician
LauraMulveyWriter and academicBirkbeck College, Univerisity of London
JohnMurrayRetired architect
DanielNaddafyTheatre Maker
IditNathanArtist
patricknevilleactor
MaggieNewlandsMusician
ArianNikActor
BenNorrisActor and writer
ChristopherNorrisPhilosopher and poetCardiff University
GoldyNotayActor
FionnÓ LoingsighActor
ShivaunO’Caseywriter, director
JennyO’Connellactor
DanielO’SullivanAudio Production / DJ
AmmarObeidActor, Director
WemmyOgunyankinvisual anthropologist / poet
LouiseOliverActor / WriterPersistent and Nasty
ChiomaOparaFacilitator
ChloeOstmoArtist
AliOwenArtist
EmmaPallantActorCaversham
PratibhaParmarDirector
NikhilParmarPlaywright / actor / screenwriter
WilliamParryDirector, photographerPressure Cooker Arts
NikeshPatelActor
RathekaPatelCamera Assistant
MaatinPatelPlaywright and producer
MirandaPennellFilmmaker
FollettPennellMusician
Fernando JoséPereiraVisual Artist
AnielaPiaseckaArtist
JocelynPookComposer
ErikaPooleActor
StevePottingerwriter
JeremyPoyntingPublisherPeepal Tree Press
RubyPughTheatre Designer
ClareQuinnTheatremaker
WilliamRabanfilmmaker
HussinaRajaActor
SamanthaRebelloartist
YasminaReggadPerformance artist and dramaturg
DaveRendlepoet
EmmaReynoldsAuthor-illustrator
JackReynorActor
KeithRidgwayWriter
HannahRinghamActor, artist
DouglasRobertsonMusic promoter and photographerThe Soundhouse Organisation
SianRobins GraceTV Producer and screenwriterWriters Guild Great Britain
AnnaRobinsonPoet and playwright
DavidRogerProduction DesignFiery Angel Design
LyndaRookeActor
JonathanRosenheadAcademicBritish Committee for the Universities of Palestine
TabithaRossCommunity arts producerMakani
LeonRosselsonchildren’s author, songwriter
JaneRossiter-SmithWriter
HazelRoyWriter, theatre direcor, dance practitionerEquity
LeonieRushforthPoet
TracyRyan O’FlahertyWriter/Director
ZiyadSaadiWriter, Actor, Filmmaker
YaraSalahiddeenSinger
MartySalehPhotographer
AbuSalehVisual Artist
PaulSammutArtist, Curator
CamillaSaundersComposer and performer
DominicSaundersMusician
VickyScrivenerPlaywright/Writer/Poet
PeterSearlesActorEquity
PeggySeegerSinger, songwriter
SophieSeitaArtist
NickSeymourMusicianCrowded House
SaraShaarawiPlaywright
JulieShacksonArtist
SaherShahActor & Writer
RobShahArtist
ElhumShakerifarProducer and writer
AimeeShalanEducator & activist
KhaldounShamiFilmmaker
FarhanaSheikhWriter
MatSheldonDirectorAesthetik Ltd.
DaniellaShreirFilm worker
NikeshShuklaWriter
YasminSidhwaArtistic DirectorMandala Theatre Company
AndySimonsJazz performer
FizzSinclairActor
XavierSinger-KingsmithFilmmaker
AlbertoSipioneCuratorL’A/telier Modica Gallery
SteveSkaithSongwriter and musicianLatin Quarter
HollySlingsbyArtist
RobynSlovoTV and Film producer
AdhamSmartWriter
JohnSmithArtist filmmakerEmeritus Professor, University of East London
Andrew JonathanSmithWriter-Director
CatherineSmithDesigner
BeckySmyllieArtist
ElviraSolimanArtist
SopArtist
CamillaStaceyArtist and curator
Jesse LeeStemlandMusician
PaulStewartArtist & businessman
KrystinaStimakovitsDirector, retired
LizStirlingartist
MaxStrangerSet designer
SarahStreatfeildViolinist
KestonSutherlandPoet
SueSutherleyMusician
EleanorSuttonActor
DavidSylvianartist
TakoTaalartist
MitraTabrizianartist
RebeccaTamásAuthor
IsobelTarrArts & Culture CampaignerCulture Unstained
ZoëTelfordActor
SubashThebe Limbuartist
PaigeThomasActor
CarolynThompsonArtist/painter, printmaker
RonaTopazSinger/actor
ElloraTorchiaActress
MarieToselandArtist and researcher
RobinTownsendMusicianMusician’s Union
SusanTrangmarArtist
DiTrevisDirector , writer, teacher.
MattTurtleDirectorMuseum of Homelessness
SarahTwomeyActor
JoTyabjiDirector
JessicaTylerActor, playwright
MeghanTylerPlaywright, actor
AleksanderVaradianActor, Plawright
LightVehiyComposer and playwright
JaneyVerneypoet
JaiVethamonyActor & Poet
CatVilliersfilm producer
HardishVirkCurator and Author
Judith AnneVranckenDramaturg
MirzaWaheedNovelist
SeanWainArtist
RickWalkerRetired CEO, participatory arts
NaomiWallacePlaywright
NadiraWallaceWriter
DekaWalmsleyActor
RogerWatersMusician
ChristineWaygoodDesigner
StephanieWebberArtist
CeciliaWeeCurator, artist and Tutor, Royal College of Art
HayleyWellsIllustrator
HilaryWestlakeTheatre Director
FionaWhitawActor/WriterEquity member
JanWillemsTheatre Director (ret)Theatre Day Productions
EvaWilliamsGallery assistant
NathanWittArtist
NeilWoodSculptor
SusanWooldridgeActor/writer
SethWoolfArtist
RobertWyattMusician
RittikWystupMusician
DanielYork LohWriter/Actor
EmilyYoungArtist/writer
SameenaZehraPerformer, Writer, Director
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