The actor who raised the Palestinian flag on stage in Canada was removed from the cast.

At the end of the performance of the opera Tosca staged at the Calgary Opera in Canada, actor Gabriel Sanchez-Ortega, who raised the Palestinian flag, was dismissed from his position. Following the premiere performance on October 16, the artist who raised the flag was applauded for a long time by the audience. The opera management subsequently described the action as unauthorized and announced that the actor would not appear in the remaining performances.

The flag was applauded by the audience in the hall.

During the premiere of the opera Tosca staged by the Calgary Opera on October 16, an attention-grabbing incident occurred at the curtain call. The actor Gabriel Sanchez-Ortega stepped onto the stage with the Palestinian flag.

After the artist raised the flag, the audience in the hall applauded for minutes. It was observed that the two actors positioned at the back of the stage also joined the applause.

Sanchez-Ortega: I am not sorry for my action.

After the incident, Sanchez-Ortega, who made a statement, said he does not feel remorse for his action. The opera artist emphasized that, independent of whether the theater conveys a political message, performers must confront their own behavior after leaving the stage.

The artist, also referring to the character he portrayed, said the following:

Whether the theater is political or not, after it ends we all must return to our homes and look at our reflections in the mirror.

Sanchez‑Ortega also said that playing the political prisoner Angelotti in the play was an honor for him.

Opera Management Deemed the Action Unauthorized

Calgary Opera evaluated the actor's raising of the Palestinian flag on stage as an “unexpected and unauthorized” act. The institution stated that individual political protests do not align with its policies and consequently removed Sanchez‑Ortega from the roster.

The management emphasized that it aims to strengthen sensitivity, mutual understanding, and shared experiences in society through artistic events. In the statement, it was noted that personal political actions conflict with the institution's approach.

Another artist will assume the role in the remaining performances

It was announced that another performer will portray Cesare Angelotti in the remaining performances of Tosca, which is scheduled to conclude on 24 October

The decision has reignited the debate over artists' right to deliver political messages on stage versus cultural institutions' authority to enforce their own rules

A similar incident had also occurred in London

This incident over the Palestinian flag also recalled a similar event that took place at the Royal Opera House in London in July 2025. During the final performance of Il Trovatore, a performer unfurled a Palestinian flag on stage, and the institution criticized the artist, stating the act was unauthorized

The incident in Calgary likewise brought the debate over the limits of political expression and the consequences of individual protests on stage back into focus in the art world