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| London Piccadilly Theatre ceiling collapses on audience | London Piccadilly Theatre ceiling collapses on audience |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Several people were injured when parts of a ceiling collapsed during a Piccadilly Theatre show in London's West End. | Several people were injured when parts of a ceiling collapsed during a Piccadilly Theatre show in London's West End. |
| The venue in Denman Street was packed on Wednesday for a performance of the Arthur Miller play Death of a Salesman, starring US actor Wendell Pierce. | The venue in Denman Street was packed on Wednesday for a performance of the Arthur Miller play Death of a Salesman, starring US actor Wendell Pierce. |
| Audience members "heard dripping sounds indicating water was coming through the ceiling," according to the theatre production company. | Audience members "heard dripping sounds indicating water was coming through the ceiling," according to the theatre production company. |
| More than 1,000 people were evacuated. | More than 1,000 people were evacuated. |
| Four people were taken to hospital after three men and two women were treated at the scene by paramedics. | Four people were taken to hospital after three men and two women were treated at the scene by paramedics. |
| "We are ascertaining the extent of the situation, and will be providing an update on future performances as soon as possible," the Ambassador Theatre Group said. | "We are ascertaining the extent of the situation, and will be providing an update on future performances as soon as possible," the Ambassador Theatre Group said. |
| The production team said three special performances of the play would take place at the Young Vic theatre on Friday night, as well as a matinee and evening performance on Saturday. | |
| The performances at the Piccadilly Theatre for the rest of the week have been cancelled. | |
| Wendell Pierce, who plays Willy Loman in the show which opened on Monday, said: "First, I hope those injured last night are recovered and healing. | |
| "Their well-being is the most important thing. I am also so grateful that the Death of a Salesman company is able to continue performances of Arthur Miller's great play. | |
| "The nightly audience response has been overwhelming, and I would like to thank the Young Vic for enabling us to continue on this special journey. | |
| "In the time-honoured tradition of the theatre, the show must go on." | |
| He apologised for having to stop the performance and evacuate the theatre. | |
| A video shared on social media shows the US actor outside the venue asking the crowd to come back and see the play another time. | A video shared on social media shows the US actor outside the venue asking the crowd to come back and see the play another time. |
| "We're so honoured that you came tonight. We are so sorry that this happened," he said. | "We're so honoured that you came tonight. We are so sorry that this happened," he said. |
| Ticket holders for the cancelled performances will be contacted to make arrangements for the performances at the Young Vic. | |
| BBC journalist Iain Haddow, who was in the audience, said the collapse happened about 20 minutes into the show. | BBC journalist Iain Haddow, who was in the audience, said the collapse happened about 20 minutes into the show. |
| He said that before the ceiling caved in there had been a steady drop of water "which turned progressively into a stream" - although it was not raining at the time - and said there was some panic when the ceiling fell in. | He said that before the ceiling caved in there had been a steady drop of water "which turned progressively into a stream" - although it was not raining at the time - and said there was some panic when the ceiling fell in. |
| He said that outside the theatre there was scaffolding and building work going on. | He said that outside the theatre there was scaffolding and building work going on. |
| In December 2013, 76 people were injured, seven seriously, when part of a ceiling at London's Apollo Theatre collapsed during a show, while 1,200 people had to leave the Queen's Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue, following a small fire during a matinee performance of Les Miserables. | In December 2013, 76 people were injured, seven seriously, when part of a ceiling at London's Apollo Theatre collapsed during a show, while 1,200 people had to leave the Queen's Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue, following a small fire during a matinee performance of Les Miserables. |