Royal Ballet and Opera to Cut 64 Staff Positions Amid Financial Restructuring

The Royal Ballet and Opera (RBO) in London will eliminate 64 staff positions, approximately 5% of its 1,169-strong workforce, as part of a long-term financial sustainability plan. Nine of the cuts are compulsory redundancies, with the remainder from unfilled vacancies, voluntary departures, and natural turnover. The RBO has been in talks with the entertainment union BECTU, which concluded for most areas except visitor experience, where proposed changes include increased volunteer use and a shift from weekly to monthly scheduling, reducing front-of-house shifts by over 4,000. Front-of-house staff are not expected to face compulsory redundancy, but a recruitment freeze may be implemented. An RBO spokesperson stated the organization is focusing resources on artistic work, audience growth, and site investment, acting now to remain sustainable despite a sound financial position. BECTU national secretary Jenny Tingle said the union minimized impact on members. The cuts follow a warning from the RBO’s chief commercial officer a year ago about the need for greater investment in its Covent Garden home. This reflects broader financial strain across British opera, with the Welsh National Opera, Glyndebourne, and English National Opera also facing funding cuts and restructuring.