The Edinburgh Playhouse has reportedly cancelled a performance of The Bodyguard after a medical emergency took place during the show.
The incident took place on Saturday, February 25 at the matinee of the show at the popular theatre on Greenside Place.
Concerned members of the crowd told how the show stopped after an alleged disturbance broke out and they were told to remain in their seats before the cancellation was announced.
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Ambulances then attended the Playhouse after a member of the crowd reportedly fell and hit their head.
Speaking to the Courier one member of the audience from near Dundee said: "We thoroughly enjoyed the first half and were looking forward to the second.
“After the interval, the crowd didn’t seem to be settling down and a commotion could be heard from the back of the theatre.
“The actors were on the stage and initially carrying on as if everything was fine, but there was increasing disruption, including raised voices.
“I turned to my friends and said it sounded like some kind of disturbance but we couldn’t really see what was going on."
She told how staff were forced to cancel the show and said: “Eventually somebody appeared on the stage from behind the curtain and tapped the leading man on the shoulder.
"The actor stopped mid-sentence and they walked off the stage. It was bizarre.
“There was then an announcement saying the show would be stopped due to a ‘medical emergency’.
“We could see something was happening on the balcony and then staff emerged with a folding screen and effectively sectioned off an area of the audience."
She continued: “People were asked to remain in their seats as the drama continued. We were all speculating as to what had happened.
“The show stopped at 4.05pm and it was 5.20pm before they announced the show would not restart and staff would be in touch to offer refunds
“At 4.30pm they announced that the emergency services had arrived and that a person was being tended to.
“Half an hour later a second ambulance arrived and we could see a stretcher being brought in.
“It really isn’t the kind of thing you expect to happen in a theatre – the whole experience was just surreal.
“I can’t fault the staff for the way they dealt with it but it was just very frustrating and upsetting.”
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Earlier this month Edinburgh Live reported that Colin Marr, Theatre Director at the Edinburgh Playhouse, said ‘enough is enough’ after a string of incidents at the theatre including staff being punched and spat on.
Just days before the outburst, a 51-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman were charged over a disturbance during a performance of Jersey Boys at the Playhouse.
A spokesperson for the Edinburgh Playhouse said: "Due to a serious medical emergency at the start of Act 2 during The Bodyguard matinee on Saturday 25 February there was a show stop."
They added: "On assessment of the injury it became necessary to cancel the remainder of the performance.
"Any ticket holders who booked via ATG Tickets will be contacted directly."
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