Bosses at Bristol's biggest theatre have cancelled a run of performances by a Russian ballet company, saying they 'stand firmly behind the people of Ukraine'.
The Ambassador Theatre Group, which runs the Bristol Hippodrome, had been due to stage performances by the Russian State Ballet Company of Siberia next month.
The Russian company were due to perform at the Bristol Hippodrome on March 25 and 26, but that has now been cancelled, along with a run of performances at another ATG venue, the Edinburgh Playhouse, earlier in March.
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Other theatres in Britain - at Northampton and Wolverhampton - have also scrapped the shows, throwing the entire tour by the Russian State ballet company into doubt.
In a statement issued on behalf of the Bristol Hippodrome, the Ambassador Theatre Group said it would be in touch with people who had bought tickets.
"The Ambassador Theatre Group stands firmly behind the people and nation of Ukraine at this time," the statement said.
"Consequently, the decision has been taken to cancel the forthcoming visit of the Russian State Ballet Company of Siberia to our venues, Edinburgh Playhouse and Bristol Hippodrome, which were scheduled to take place between 3-5 March and 25-26 March respectively.
"We hope for a swift return to peace and stability in the region. We will be in touch with customers who had tickets for these performances as soon as possible, and thank them for their patience and understanding," they added.
Ukrainians and Bristolians turned out in their hundreds on College Green earlier today (Saturday, February 26) in a show of support and solidarity with people in Ukraine, as Russia continued its invasion of the central European country.
The Russian State Ballet of Siberia last performed in Bristol in February 2019, and this was to be their first tour of Britain since the Covid pandemic.
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