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Activists interrupt Sadler's Wells performance | Activists interrupt Sadler's Wells performance |
(about 20 hours later) | |
A performance by an Israeli dance group in London was disrupted on Monday by demonstrators protesting against Israeli air strikes in Gaza. | A performance by an Israeli dance group in London was disrupted on Monday by demonstrators protesting against Israeli air strikes in Gaza. |
Protestors stood and shouted at Sadler's Wells theatre before being swiftly ejected by security staff. | |
The audience applauded and cheered during protests in support of the performers. | |
A Sadler's Wells spokesman said the dancers of the Batsheva Ensemble had continued with their performance. | |
A smaller protest also took place during Tuesday night's performance. | |
"Batsheva Ensemble are the youth company of one of the world's most accomplished and innovative dance companies," said Alistair Spalding, chief executive and artistic director of Sadler's Wells. | |
"Therefore it is absolutely right that they should be presented within our artistic programme. | |
"We believe in engagement, not disengagement or boycott," he continued. "Cultural isolation is not a policy that Sadler's Wells believes in." | |
Campaigners said they were not protesting against individual Israeli artists but against their government. | |
"Our message to Israel... is that institutions linked to the state, including cultural bodies like Batsheva, cannot expect to be welcomed as if they represented normalcy," said Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi of the Boycott Israel Network. | "Our message to Israel... is that institutions linked to the state, including cultural bodies like Batsheva, cannot expect to be welcomed as if they represented normalcy," said Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi of the Boycott Israel Network. |
Before Monday, 11 of the the Batsheva Ensemble's UK shows have been interrupted since the company began touring in August. | Before Monday, 11 of the the Batsheva Ensemble's UK shows have been interrupted since the company began touring in August. |
More protests are planned when the Tel Aviv-based group reaches Plymouth on 23 and 24 November, the final dates of its UK tour. | More protests are planned when the Tel Aviv-based group reaches Plymouth on 23 and 24 November, the final dates of its UK tour. |
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