A performing arts and entertainment union says moving the English National Opera out of London puts people’s jobs at risk.
Equity says “without significant investment and a workforce plan to keep chorus and stage management engaged across both cities”, the “workforce is at risk”.
The company has chosen Manchester out of a number of cities as its new home for 2029.
As part of a Government plan to level up opportunities outside of London, the Arts Council demanded the ENO move, or it would remove its £12 million funding.
Amy Kernza Sedgeick is an ENO Chorus member and Equity representative. She said the only certainty in the announcement is that “there will be a significant reduction in the work and income for those of us employed at the ENO right now”.
Some voices outside the ENO, such as Olivier nominee David Butt Philip, have criticised the companies statement for not providing clarity on the situation of current employees.
Unsurprisingly, this statement is more notable for what it doesn’t say than what it does. No clues as to where or how often performances in Manchester will take place, and, more ominously, no mention of whether the current chorus, orchestra or technical team will be involved… https://t.co/kGQfSd22VN
— David Butt Philip (@DavidButtPhilip) December 5, 2023
Jenny Mollica, interim CEO of the ENO, said the company is “delighted to confirm the start of our new partnership with Greater Manchester”.
She said the move supports its “mission to create work with and for even more audience across the country”.
She did not comment on the future for the current staff.
This compounds existing anxieties about the security of workers at the company.
In October Martyn Brabbins, music director, resigned in protest of a proposed 40% cut to staff contracts.
Norman Lebrecht is a classical music writer and creator of the website Slipped Disc. He predicts the move will lead to employees being “offered a stark choice between redundancy and relocation”.
Lebrecht argues that, in the move, the ENO will lose a lot of talent and be forced to put together a makeshift orchestra.
He says none of the options for the ENO “inspires hope or foretells glory”.
City News has contacted the English National Opera for a response.