London’s Old Vic Theatre has officially settled a legal dispute with actor Ruairi Cannon, who accused the institution and its former artistic director Kevin Spacey of sexual assault. The parties reached an out-of-court settlement, with the actor knowingly waiving his right to anonymity in order to publicly state his position.
Theatre representatives said the terms of the financial settlement would remain strictly confidential to the public. The Old Vic said in a statement: ‘Ruairi Cannon and the theatre have reached a mutual agreement to settle the matter out of court, the exact terms of which are confidential.’ The theatre’s management emphasised that this step does not imply an admission of guilt or legal liability.
The decision to close the case was made in view of the high cost of protracted litigation and its exhausting impact on all parties involved. ‘This agreement was reached without any admission of liability, taking into account the costs and impact of protracted litigation on all parties,’ the theatre’s press service added. The theatre is currently refusing to comment further on the incident.
Despite the settlement with the theatre, Ruairi Cannon is continuing his legal battle against Kevin Spacey in the High Court in London. The actor claims that he was assaulted during a party at the Savoy Hotel and at the Old Vic Theatre bar. Spacey, for his part, categorically denies any allegations of violent acts or non-consensual contact.
Two other anonymous plaintiffs, whose complaints had already been the subject of criminal proceedings in July 2023, joined Cannon’s lawsuit. At that time, a jury acquitted the Hollywood star, but the plaintiffs are seeking justice in civil court. One of them claims that the assault took place while he was working as a driver, the other — after a meeting at the actor’s home.
The victims’ lawyers insist on the inclusion of testimony from seven other people who describe similar patterns of behaviour by the defendant. Elizabeth-Ann Gamble K.S. noted in court that this testimony demonstrates ‘a propensity for certain behaviour, including sexual assault.’ According to her, the witnesses are mostly young men who admired the celebrity’s talent.
The defence claims that Spacey used his status as an influential star and his power to manipulate and subsequently pressure the victims. ‘There is a series of testimonies from men that Spacey built certain relationships with them and then committed violence,’ the lawyer said during the hearing. Most of the victims were in a vulnerable professional position at the time of the incidents.
Spacey’s defence lawyer, William McCormick K.S., denies that there was any pattern to his client’s actions. He argues that the facts in the various complaints differ significantly and therefore cannot be considered a single pattern of behaviour. According to the defence, combining the cases requires ‘strikingly similar’ details, which are allegedly lacking in these complaints.
Judge Lambert promised to announce her decision on the format of further hearings and the inclusion of new witnesses at a later date. The main trial is expected to begin on 9 November this year. This case remains one of the most high-profile in British law concerning abuse in the theatre world.