An open statement by oboist Mary Gilbert:
After 26 years I have decided to leave Northern Ballet, or told them I never want to work there again. Being a professionally musician should be a joyous thing and there is absolutely no joy left for me working there. I have had a very long happy career there and am very grateful for that.
We have been to led to believe that all of northern ballet’s decisions have been financial but recently “the company” have decided to abandon many of the members of the Northern Ballet Sinfonia, booking other players instead. (Members of the sinfonia who have auditioned and trialled for their positions). For a company who are supposed to be all about its people this seems an extremely cruel decision. I do not want to be the next player on their hit list so have decided to remove myself first!
For every patch of work now, players are being made to sign a confidentiality clause, not allowing any player to speak out on social media, to the press or any third party about anything that may occur during that period of work. In other words, a gagging order in my opinion. Now I am out of that situation I have decided to answer many of the questions I have been asked about “what is going on at northern ballet now?”
The next patch of work is making a recording for Merlin, the ballet that will be touring next season. Of course freelance players will take this work as the freelance scene is extremely dodgy at the moment. Northern ballet say that they have tried to engage with the Musicians’ Union. I would say it was the other way around, as the MU are asking for a very basic agreement that all members of Northern Ballet Sinfonia that was, be asked for any work that the company are offering. The company are still refusing to agree to this. In my opinion it is not too late for “the company” to do the right thing and engage its original players for the period of work after Merlin and for the future.
I would like to say to some dancers, techies and admin staff in the company who seem to think that we have been earning too much money when we work, YOU were paid throughout COVID and have been paid a salary for every single week, something all of us would give our eye teeth for. It is not possible to survive, let alone bring up a young family on 7-10 weeks work a year.
Personally, I am extremely lucky that I can walk away as I have other work and my lovely reed business but I will continue to fight for my colleagues and also to call Northern ballet out on the way they are continuing to engage musicians.
A reminder of who is responsible for this vicious situation. Every major decision by Northern Ballet has been precipitated by the uncaring and ill-informed Arts Council England.
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