No redundancy notices have been issued and unions representing the remaining employees now believe the crunch, if it comes, will be after the ROH board meets on Wednesday.

The Royal Ballet and Royal Opera face complete shutdown between January and the end of 1999 if no agreement is reached.

Sir Colin Southgate: Gave artists' unions ultimatum

ROH chairman Sir Colin Southgate said last month indefinite closure and redundancies would follow if unions could not agree new working contracts by Monday, 26 October.

The actors' union Equity then protested against the "arbitrary" deadline, terming it "like negotiating with a gun held against our heads."

An Equity spokesman said on Monday: "It is reasonable to suspect that they are going to wait until the Board meet on Wednesday, but we have not been told that formally."

Bectu and the Musicians' Union are also negotiating on behalf of about 80 corps de ballet, 36 full-time opera chorus, the 104-strong orchestra, backstage and front-of-house staff.

Dancers and singers face substantial pay cuts and seven out of 10 stage managers are to be made redundant, Equity said.