More Than Half of RSC Staff Urged to Apply for Voluntary Redundancy Amid £5-6m Shortfall
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is asking over half of its workforce to apply for voluntary redundancy in an effort to address an urgent budget gap estimated between £5 million and £6 million. The appeal forms part of broader cost-cutting measures intended to ensure the arts institution remains sustainable.
The Guardian
What’s Going On
Out of approximately 835 employees, 420 staff members are eligible to apply for voluntary redundancy.
The RSC has warned that if too few people accept these voluntary cuts, it could be forced to implement compulsory redundancies.
Alongside seeking voluntary departures, the company is also pursuing operational efficiencies and looking for new income sources to supplement its finances.
Why the Cuts
The RSC cites several factors behind its financial woes:
Rising staffing and operating costs since the end of the pandemic;
A decline in public investment;
Lower revenues due to cost-of-living pressures affecting audience spending.
The institution says these pressures have created a “year-on-year gap between what it costs to run the organisation and what we are capable of generating in income” and that urgent action is needed.
What It Means
RSC leadership argues that the restructure is necessary so that the company can continue to be a “leading global theatre company,” and that its organizational structure must support, rather than hinder, its ambitions.
This marks the largest redundancy scheme RSC has launched since the major cuts during the pandemic in 2020.
Despite the financial pain, the RSC continues with its programming plans. It recently unveiled its full spring 2026 season which includes notable names such as Kenneth Branagh and Helen Hunt.