Live music has been a feature of the RSC for decades and was a critical element of Shakespeare’s plays. Photo: Shutterstock.
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has revealed proposals to permanently close its Music Department as part of a major cost-cutting and restructuring plan.
The MU has been approached by members who are freelance musicians and are concerned about the proposals, asking the Union to publicise a petition they have launched. In doing so, we have also asked those members to write to the MU with their views so that we can share them more directly with RSC management.
The RSC is currently undergoing a staff consultation, which is scheduled to conclude in January 2026. The Union is formally responding to the proposed plans and working with Houseband members to submit counter-proposals opposing the closure of the music department and challenging member redundancies.
The MU has been engaged in consultation with the RSC
Stephen Brown, MU Midlands Regional Organiser says: “The MU has been engaged in consultation with the RSC over its proposals to close its Music Department and move any remaining staff into other teams, as well as to make its employed houseband members redundant.
“The Union is opposed to the closure of the Music Department, as we believe it will fragment and ultimately diminish the prevalence of live music in its productions, which has been a feature of the RSC for decades and was a critical element of Shakespeare’s plays.
"The MU is also arguing for the retention of the remaining houseband members, as they are a crucial part of the Music Department’s offer and consistently provide value-added benefits to the Department, to RSC productions, to composers and MDs, and to the many freelance musicians (MU members) who work at the RSC.”