Mark Rylance resigns from RSC

If you read the Guardian article, Rylance explains his thinking on this very clearly. He sought input from environmentalists. He tried to make changes from the inside. He was promised certain things and waited. From his point of view they didn’t deliver, so he decided enough was enough and quit. He did say he hoped this action would encourage other associate artists to speak up. So I suppose the meaningful change may yet appear if they choose to pick up the gauntlet in sufficient numbers...

Rylance is a committed activist on many issues so it’s no surprise he did this. Normally I can’t stand activists because they’re preachy and smug, thereby damaging their cause. Rylance is definitely different - he states clear, personal arguments and tends to pose questions instead of lecturing. In short, he respects people’s intelligence. So while I don’t necessarily agree with his stance, I admire his conviction. And he’s certainly done more to get me thinking about environmental issues than the numpties who tried to bring London to a standstill or the even bigger numpties who gatecrashed the Chancellor’s speech the other day.

It's an interesting line. Rylance and Emma Thompson are powerful enough to be able to do this, and it's good that they can, but at the same time one can't help feeling actors who don't have the career and financial security to say no to work then start to appear morally grubby.

It's always a weird one, that - it's like people want to be 'anti-Establishment' by insisting that only someone from the Establishment could have produced that work!

Such a non story! He hasnt Appeared at the rsc for 30 years plus he is denier.

What a joke! She's never been anywhere near the RSC. Just odd bit of self publicity from her. I see your mate Lipman is joining the conversation.

Without getting into a he-said, she-said, some might argue the point is there is no point in making a stance like this unless you are famous (and almost by definition in this game: rich).

Anyone got time for one of my Mark Rylance stories? Good!

Over the years our paths have often crossed, most of the time when our cycling commutes have coincided (presumably him to The Globe or another rehearsal space in town). Fwiw, as well as seeing him at traffic lights he literally cycles past my window as it's the only sensible route into town from Herne Hill. Anyway ... a few years ago now ... I had taken *a break* from theatre but could still afford discounted gym membership and came to love Pilates. Over time a bunch of us became regulars, and we would chat a while after class outside the front where everyone locks their bikes.

During the time this little social/exercise group was happening Rylance began to appear - first to ask at the gym about one-to-one personal trainer sessions, then to start them. He wanted to do an hours boxing, I think once a week though it might have been twice. One of the gym instructors was able to help.

Coincidentally, he finished his boxing sessions when one of the regular Pilates classes was finishing and my group would be chatting as he came out. Not sure anyone else recognised him. After a while he'd say hello, just in passing - a wry smile, I think, as if to say how have old fellars like us got to this .. went on for a long while, months. He always took the chance to say hello. Nice man, I thought.

Had no idea then, thought about it years later; turns out this was during his run in Jerusalem at the Royal Court

/the end

To be fair when she ‘shuttles between her homes in the UK, Australia and Tuscany,’ she could pay to carbon offset her ‘jet fuel.’