LONDON, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Britain's Royal Shakespeare
Company will drop energy company BP Plc as its sponsor
after young people told the theatre group the partnership with
BP turned them off going to its plays.
“Amidst the climate emergency, which we recognise, young
people are now saying clearly to us that the BP sponsorship is
putting a barrier between them and their wish to engage with the
RSC. We cannot ignore that message," the RSC said on Wednesday.
"The decision has not been taken lightly or swiftly," it
added of its move to end the partnership, which used money from
BP to offer subsidised theatre tickets to young people, by the
end of this year.
BP said it was "disappointed and dismayed" at the RSC's
decision.
"Ironically, the increasing polarisation of debate, and
attempts to exclude companies committed to making real progress,
is exactly what is not needed," BP said.
(Reporting by Shadia Nasralla; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)