Artists for Palestine UK is dismayed to learn of  the Royal Shakespeare Company’s collaboration with the US fashion label Alice + Olivia on “a licensed apparel collection inspired by Shakespeare’s literary works”. A + O  is a label that declared itself “in support of Israel” while Israel was indiscriminately bombing civilians in Gaza and had already killed hundreds of children. As the death toll rose, the label hosted a fund-raising event for US Friends of the Israeli Defence Force, designated ‘official US partner’ by the Chief of Staff of the Israeli military. The RSC’s relationship with Alice + Olivia was brokered  by  Brandgenuity, a licensing and marketing company which also declares its ‘proud support’ for Israel. From October, Alice and Olivia’s collection is on sale in its stores, crediting the RSC.  

RSC alumni have called on the company to change direction. Today, following Artists for Palestine UK’s findings and the subsequent backlash from artists, The Stage reports that RSC artistic directors say they will convene a special meeting of its ethics committee.

Playwright Caryl Churchill says,  “Come on RSC, you say you support equity and justice. How have you blundered into an involvement with this company that states its support for Israel and the IDF while they commit extraordinary atrocities?”