Today’s matinee performance of Woyzeck, starring John Boyega, has been halted due to a bomb scare. The situation is still ongoing, but here’s the latest news.
More than 1,000 people are thought to have been evacuated from the theatre which was reportedly at full capacity.
Liam Joseph, who was in the audience but is himself an usher, told MailOnline: ‘I knew something was up.
‘When that [an evacuation] happens it’s either a fire drill or it might be a bomb.
‘The company manager came on while John Boyega was on stage, asked the audience to remain calm and said the show was going to end. Then the duty manager said ‘please evacuate’.
More than 1,000 people are thought to have been evacuated from the theatre which was reportedly at full capacity
‘The front of house staff in their fluorescent jackets evacuated everyone out safely and quickly in two or three minutes – it was incredible.
‘As we were being evacuated police cordoned off the area.
He added: ‘John Boyega was just with us walking down the street. It was all done very efficiently with a real sense of calm but your heart’s in your mouth and not many people knew what was going to happen.’
The Old Vic said in a statement: ‘We have been evacuated as a precaution; audience safety is our priority. We are liaising with the Met Police.’
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: ‘Police were called at 14:38pm on Saturday, May 27, to The Cut, Waterloo, to a report of a security alert at a theatre.
‘The theatre took the decision to evacuate the building. Road closures have been put in place. Specialist officers are on the scene.’
More on this story via our social media feeds as it develops.
