Apollo theatre roof collapse: checks continue on other London venues

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/dec/20/apollo-theatre-roof-collapse-checks

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The London Fire Brigade said it was down to luck that more people were not seriously hurt when the Apollo theatre's ceiling collapsed following heavy rainfall on Thursday night.

Checks on historic theatres across the West End continued throughout the day after the incident in which 79 people were injured. Local government officials confirmed that the building's health and safety checks had been up to date.Other theatre owners who attended an emergency meeting also said their safety certifications were in line with regulations.

Attempts to limit the fallout and potential losses to the £2bn sector were joined by London's mayor, Boris Johnson, who said the city's theatres are "open for business".

London Ambulance Service said it had treated 79 people, 56 of whom were taken to hospital in ambulances and two commandeered London buses. Of those, 47 were "walking wounded" with minor injuries, while nine people had suffered more serious injuries including head and back injuries.

Witnesses described "chaos and panic" as parts of the Apollo theatre, in Shaftesbury Avenue, began to crumble 45 minutes into a performance of the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. More than 700 people were inside the theatre when members of the audience started screaming as it appeared parts of the ceiling were caving in.

Masonry and plaster from the Grade II-listed theatre plummeted on to the stalls, dragging a section of the balcony with it, hitting audience members and filling the theatre with clouds of thick dust. A makeshift triage room was set up at the Gielgud theatre.

Nick Harding, of London Fire Brigade, said it was fortunate that more people were not injured, adding he had never seen anything like it during 19 years in the fire service.

Westminster councillor Nickie Aiken said: "The Apollo's health and safety checks are up to date. Each historic theatre is unique and we have no reason to believe this is anything other than an isolated incident. We have confirmed today with the Society of London Theatre that all theatres' safety checks are up to date; however, as a precaution, all historic theatres are carrying out further safety checks today."

The Metropolitan police said it was satisfied that there had been no criminal act.

The Apollo dates back to 1901 but it is not among the capital's oldest theatres, some of which were built in the 18th century.

The Society of London Theatre said that "all major theatre owners have confirmed that their safety inspections and certificates are up to date, and will co-operate fully with the authorities to reassure the public that their theatres are safe. All other London theatres remain open for business today and in the coming weeks." It said every theatre "undergoes rigorous safety checks and inspections by independent experts".

David Cameron, speaking at the end of an EU summit in Brussels, said it was "an absolutely appalling event".

He added: "I was following the news from the summit last night. The emergency and other services responded brilliantly. I am sure there will be lessons to learn and we must properly examine those lessons."

Structural engineers and health and safety officers have started an investigation and further safety checks will also be made on the othertheatres in the West End. Surveyors attended the Apollo and said the structure was sound.

Mhora Samuel, director of the Theatres Trust, the national advisory public body for theatres, said: "Thankfully occurrences of theatre ceiling and plasterwork collapse are extremely rare. The public should be reassured that theatre owners carry out regular plasterwork inspections and maintenance regimes to ensure the safety of their buildings."The collapse followed heavy rainfall, hail and lightning strikes. Almost 15% of the average monthly rainfall for one area in December fell during a single hour, according to meteorologists. Nimax Theatres, which owns the Apollo, described the incident as "shocking and upsetting".

Audience members spoke of hearing a loud "creaking" which some initially thought was part of the show. Theatre-goer Khalil Anjarwalla said he, his heavily pregnant wife and her parents escaped from the theatre safely after "kilos of concrete plummeted from the ceiling".

He added: "I was in the upper circle with my family when, about 45 minutes in, people started shouting and screaming Within an instant the whole roof seemed to come down. We saw a lot of people completely covered in dust – I could hardly breathe. We had to get out."

Photographs from inside the theatre showed heavy beams and wood strewn across seats, which were coated in debris and dust.

The incident commander Maria Smith, who was one of the first on the scene at around 8.10pm, said: "When I arrived, it was dark and extremely dusty and people were lying on the floor of the theatreWe very quickly set up a casualty clearing area in the foyer of the theatre and the walking wounded were assessed and treated there for injuries such as cuts and grazes, breathing problems and head injuries."

Mark Haddon, who wrote the award-winning book on which the play is based, said: "It's been horrifying sitting here watching what has been happening at the Apollo this evening. I'm hugely relieved that no one has died. I hope that those who were seriously injured are OK. I'm sorry, too, that so many people went through such a terrifying experience."

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