BP or not BP? Reclaiming Shakespeare from the sponsors

It was Sunday afternoon at the British Museum, and things seemed pretty normal. The new BP-sponsored Shakespeare exhibition had a steady flow of visitors, browsing through a series of artefacts linked to the Bard’s life and works. 

A few security guards kept an idle eye on the proceedings, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Then the chanting began.

Double double, oil and trouble Tar sands burn and greenwash bubble 

 It started as a single, quiet voice, echoing around the final room in the exhibition – a brightly lit area dotted with display cabinets. Then more voices joined in, and more, until it became a rousing chorus, emanating from perhaps a dozen people scattered through the space.

As suddenly as it had begun, the chanting ceased – and three smartly dressed figures leapt, cackling, into the centre of the room, each wearing a cap with a bright green BP logo.