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London Theaters Checked After Ceiling Collapse London Theaters Checked After Ceiling Collapse
(about 2 hours later)
LONDON — City authorities were carrying out inspections of London’s West End theaters on Friday, intent on avoiding any further collapses like the one at the Apollo Theater, where a falling ceiling injured more than 80 people watching a play in the packed house. LONDON — The authorities were carrying out inspections of London’s West End theaters on Friday, intent on avoiding any further collapses like the one at the Apollo Theater, where a falling ceiling injured more than 80 people watching a play in the packed house.
Westminster City Council will report on a structural assessment of the Apollo, a 112-year-old Edwardian theater where the collapse occurred Thursday evening. As a precaution, said a council official, Nickie Aiken, “all historic theaters are carrying out further safety checks.”Westminster City Council will report on a structural assessment of the Apollo, a 112-year-old Edwardian theater where the collapse occurred Thursday evening. As a precaution, said a council official, Nickie Aiken, “all historic theaters are carrying out further safety checks.”
Some of the estimated 720 spectators at the Apollo reported that water had been dripping slightly from the ceiling before cracking noises were heard and a 30-square-foot chunk came crashing down with the chandelier, knocking off parts of the balconies and smashing down on the stalls below. Seven of the people struck by debris were seriously injured.Some of the estimated 720 spectators at the Apollo reported that water had been dripping slightly from the ceiling before cracking noises were heard and a 30-square-foot chunk came crashing down with the chandelier, knocking off parts of the balconies and smashing down on the stalls below. Seven of the people struck by debris were seriously injured.
There had been heavy rain and winds on Wednesday and a thunderstorm Thursday about an hour before the 8:15 collapse.There had been heavy rain and winds on Wednesday and a thunderstorm Thursday about an hour before the 8:15 collapse.
The pre-Christmas crowd was watching “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” adapted from a novel by Mark Haddon. “It’s been horrifying sitting here watching what has been happening at the Apollo this evening,” Mr. Haddon said on Twitter. “I’m hugely relieved that no one has died.”The pre-Christmas crowd was watching “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” adapted from a novel by Mark Haddon. “It’s been horrifying sitting here watching what has been happening at the Apollo this evening,” Mr. Haddon said on Twitter. “I’m hugely relieved that no one has died.”
The four-story theater on Shaftesbury Avenue is steeply graded and has three cantilevered balconies under what had been a beautiful domed plaster ceiling. The last such ceiling collapse was in 1973, at the Shaftesbury Theatre, during a performance of the musical “Hair.”The four-story theater on Shaftesbury Avenue is steeply graded and has three cantilevered balconies under what had been a beautiful domed plaster ceiling. The last such ceiling collapse was in 1973, at the Shaftesbury Theatre, during a performance of the musical “Hair.”
London’s mayor, Boris Johnson, said investigations into the cause of the collapse were continuing. All the main theater owners met Friday morning and announced that all of their safety certificates and inspections were up-to-date, and that they would open as usual. An average of 32,000 people visit the West End theaters every evening.London’s mayor, Boris Johnson, said investigations into the cause of the collapse were continuing. All the main theater owners met Friday morning and announced that all of their safety certificates and inspections were up-to-date, and that they would open as usual. An average of 32,000 people visit the West End theaters every evening.
The theater owners have repeatedly called over the last decade for government help to modernize the buildings.The theater owners have repeatedly called over the last decade for government help to modernize the buildings.
If the theater collapse were not enough, 32 people were injured on Friday, seven seriously, after a double-decker bus smashed into a tree in south London, near the Imperial War Museum. Some passengers were trapped inside for several hours before fire fighters cut through the body of the bus. The top deck partly collapsed and had to be stabilized. There was no indication of the cause of the crash. If the theater collapse were not enough, 32 people were injured on Friday, seven seriously, after a double-decker bus smashed into a tree in south London, near the Imperial War Museum. Some passengers were trapped inside for several hours before firefighters cut through the body of the bus. The top deck partly collapsed and had to be stabilized. There was no indication of the cause of the crash.