Soulpepper allegations spur boycott talk among actors, patrons
Toronto’s renowned Soulpepper Theatre Company underwent a shakeup Thursday with several resignations and calls for a boycott in the wake of sexual assault and harassment allegations against founding artistic director Albert Schultz.
Early Thursday, Soulpepper co-founders Ted Dykstra and Stuart Hughes and fellow artists Michelle Monteith and Rick Roberts said they were stepping down in solidarity with four actresses who have filed lawsuits against Schultz and the company.
By Thursday evening, Schultz had also resigned and Alan Dilworth had been appointed acting artistic director.
“While this has been a tremendously difficult chapter in Soulpepper’s history, today’s decision ensures the organization is able to move forward with confidence and remain a leading Canadian theatre company,” Soulpepper said in a statement.