Royal Court loses corporate funders after antisemitism row

The row began when it emerged that an unscrupulous billionaire character featured in the new play, Rare Earth Mettle, was named “Hershel Fink”.

After critics pointed out the antisemitic connotations of the name, the Royal Court initially denied the protagonist was Jewish.

But theatre bosses later backed down and apologised “unreservedly”.

In a statement, the Royal Court said it would: “reflect on the process that enabled the name to remain and what is missing in our systems that would have mitigated this unnecessary harm”.

Anti-racism consultants employed by the theatre had previously called for a boycott of all Israeli goods, the JC later revealed. 

The Royal Court also displayed a map of the Middle East for several years in which Palestine was labelled but Israel was not. 

The BBC say they received no response to queries directed to other Royal Court donors, including Aqua Financial Ltd, Cadogan, Colbert, Edwardian Hotels London, Kudos, Sloane Stanley, Bloomberg Philanthropies and Left Bank Pictures.

They are all listed as corporate sponsors or platinum/gold or silver corporate members of the theatre. 

The BBC say two other sponsors, Sister and Auriens, declined to comment.

The JC has approached the Royal Court for comment.