A performance of Beauty and the Beast in Manchester had to be stopped twice after reports that a woman was assaulted by a man at the theatre. Security staff scrambled inside the Palace Theatre around 30 minutes into the 'must-see' show on Friday night (May 13) while police were called out to the scene.
Officers arrested a 49-year-old man at the city centre theatre, on suspicion of assault. He has since been released on bail pending further enquiries, Greater Manchester Police confirmed today (Monday).
Concerned audience members watched on as security staff frantically searched the theatre, with the lights all back on. The performance was able to resume after five minutes - only for it to be stopped again moments later for another search by security staff.
Matthew Gordon, who was in the audience for the 7.30pm show on Friday, said: "Around seven security staff were rushing and running around the stalls area where we were sat. Staff members told us it was a technical fault which it clearly wasn’t.
"Two members of security staff then ran into the men's toilets on the left-hand stalls whilst a few security men were asking other people in the audience where a person had gone. At this point people were panicking and looking around."
Matthew says that 10 minutes after the show first restarted, he noticed security staff going into the men's toilets again and 'knew something was wrong'. He added: "Low and behold two minutes later the curtain comes down, the show stops and the lights come back on.
"Everyone was getting restless and concerned now looking as security men rushed around and in and out of the toilets again. At this point some people left." The show resumed again following the second search, with the cast able to finish its performance of the show.
A spokesperson for GMP said: "Officers were called to reports that a woman had been assaulted at the Palace Theatre, Oxford Road, Manchester, on May 13, 2022 at about 7.45pm. A man, 49, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault.
"The victim did not need hospital treatment and is being supported by GMP officers." The Palace Theatre declined to comment.
