A fundraising event for Technion UK, a charity that supports Israel’s leading institute of technology, was forced to relocate at the last minute after anti-Israel activists threatened the staff of the Apollo Theatre in London. The event, which featured a conversation between author and journalist Douglas Murray and actress Louisa Clein, was cancelled by the theatre management hours before it was due to start. The organisers managed to find an alternative venue at St John’s Wood Synagogue, where nearly 1,000 people attended the event.
The Apollo Theatre’s Decision
The Apollo Theatre, owned by Nimax Theatres, was supposed to host the event on Sunday, February 5, 2024. The event was organised by Technion UK, a charity that promotes education, research, and innovation at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, one of the world’s top-ranked universities. The event was also a tribute to the students of Technion who serve in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).
However, according to Alan Aziz, the chief executive of Technion UK, the theatre staff received threatening emails from anti-Israel protesters, who opposed the event and the charity’s support for Israel. Aziz told Jewish News that an unidentified person at the theatre leaked the email addresses of the staff who agreed to work at the event to someone outside the theatre, who then sent them intimidating messages. As a result, the staff refused to work, and the theatre management decided to cancel the event.
Aziz said that the Apollo Theatre was very understanding and apologetic, and that they did everything possible to try to make the event happen. However, he said that the theatre was bound by its own and union regulations, which required them to use approved personnel who had been trained in evacuation and fire security procedures. Using unapproved staff could invalidate the theatre’s insurance, he said.
The Alternative Venue
The organisers of the event were informed of the cancellation at around 2 pm on the day of the event. They had to scramble to find another venue that could accommodate the more than 800 people who had bought tickets for the event. They contacted several places, but most of them were either unavailable or unwilling to host the event.
Eventually, they managed to secure St John’s Wood Synagogue as the alternative venue. The synagogue agreed to host the event, and provided security and facilities for the guests. The organisers also contacted the Community Security Trust (CST), a charity that protects British Jews from antisemitism and terrorism, to ensure the safety of the event.
Despite the short notice and the change of location, the event was a success. Nearly 1,000 people turned up to hear the conversation between Murray and Clein, who discussed topics such as politics, culture, and Israel. The event also raised funds for Technion UK, which supports scholarships, research projects, and innovation programmes at the Technion.
The Reaction of the Speakers and the Guests
The speakers and the guests of the event expressed their disappointment and anger at the Apollo Theatre’s decision, and their gratitude and admiration for the synagogue’s hospitality. They also condemned the anti-Israel activists who tried to sabotage the event and intimidate the theatre staff.
Murray, who is a prominent commentator and critic of Islamism and the Gaza war, tweeted after the event: “Wonderful event to a capacity audience in London. Shame on the Apollo Theatre for bowing to the mob. But London’s Jews will not be intimidated and neither will I”. He also told The Jewish Chronicle that the theatre’s decision was “a display of appalling cowardice” and that they failed to keep their employees safe. He suggested that the theatre should report the employee who leaked the emails to the police, as they put their colleagues in direct danger.
Clein, who is a British actress and a supporter of Israel, also tweeted after the event: “Thank you to everyone who came to support @TechnionUK tonight. What an incredible evening. And thank you to the wonderful @DouglasKMurray for being so brilliant and inspiring. And thank you to St John’s Wood Synagogue for being so welcoming and accommodating”.
The guests of the event also praised the speakers and the organisers for their resilience and courage. They said that they enjoyed the event and learned a lot from the conversation. They also said that they were appalled by the behaviour of the anti-Israel activists, who showed their intolerance and hatred.
The Anti-Israel Protests
While the event was taking place at the synagogue, a group of anti-Israel protesters gathered outside the Apollo Theatre, where they chanted slogans and waved banners. They accused the IDF of being “baby killers and genocide enablers”, and called for a boycott of Israel and Technion. They also claimed that the event was cancelled because of their pressure, and that they had “won”.
However, their protest was met with ridicule and contempt by Murray and the guests of the event, who mocked them for wasting their time and energy outside the wrong venue. Murray tweeted: “Well done for wasting your evening screaming outside the wrong theatre you cowards. I’m sure the people of my country loved you screaming at them”. He also said that he resented the fact that events about Israel had to be held in synagogues, as they were the only places that could be made safe. He said that Jews should be able to go to an event in central London safely, without being harassed by anti-Israel activists.
The anti-Israel protesters were also criticised by the Metropolitan Police, who said that they had received several complaints from the public about the noise and disruption caused by the protest. The police said that they had warned the protesters to lower their volume and to respect the law and the rights of others. They also said that they had monitored the protest and ensured that it remained peaceful and lawful.
