A cast member at the Royal Opera House in London unfurled a Palestinian flag during the curtain call of Verdi's Il Trovatore on Saturday night, leading to a physical struggle with staff who attempted to remove it.
The incident occurred during the encore of the final performance. A video posted on social media shows a man, believed to be a Royal Opera House staff member, emerging from the wings and trying to forcibly take the flag from the protester, who resisted and retained possession.
Witnesses described the scene as extraordinary. One audience member told the Telegraph that the cast member 'wrestled it back and refused to give it up'. Another attendee, Stephen Ratcliffe, posted on X: 'Off stage manager tried to grapple with him but he held his ground.'
The Royal Ballet and Opera issued a statement calling the display 'an unauthorised action by the artist' and 'wholly inappropriate'. The protester stood silently during the curtain call, ignoring shouts from officials in the wings, while other cast members appeared unaware of the disturbance.
Il Trovatore had completed an 11-night run at the Covent Garden venue. The protest came amid ongoing conflict in Gaza, though the performer's specific motive was not stated.
