Police have made two arrests after Just Stop Oil activists burst onto stage in the West End and disrupted a performance featuring Alien and Avatar actress Sigourney Weaver.
Two supporters of the climate group climbed onto the stage at Theatre Royal on Dury Lane, stalling the performance of The Tempest at around 8pm on Monday evening.
The pair were seen holding a sign which said “Over 1.5 Degrees is a Global Shipwreck” as they were booed by members of the audience before being taken away by security.
On Tuesday, the Met confirmed that a 42-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass after attending a central London police station on January 28.
They remain in custody.
Scientists warn that surpassing 1.5 degrees over pre-industrial levels will trigger “catastrophic feedback loops that threaten the stability of all life on earth,” Just Stop Oil said.
The protest group are demanding the government phase out burning fossil fuels by 2030.
One of the protesters, lecturer Hayley Walsh, 42, said: "I am scared for my children, I can't sleepwalk them into a future of food shortages, life-threatening storms and wars for resources. Years of writing to MPs, going on marches and teaching my students to be more sustainable, hasn't seen the urgent change needed."
🚨 BREAKING: THE TEMPEST WEST END PERFORMANCE DISRUPTED
— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) January 27, 2025
🎭 2 Just Stop Oil supporters climbed onto the stage, stopping a performance starring legendary actor Sigourney Weaver.
🖋️ 1.5 degrees is a global shipwreck. Sign up for action this April: https://t.co/guLYY5sk5C
Video… pic.twitter.com/2BIxCVT4lO
The mother of three added: "1.5 degrees is a global shipwreck we can't ignore. Wildfires in California, deadly floods in Valencia and hundreds of thousands without power in the UK this weekend.
“This isn't a distant, future problem. We need a global treaty to stop fossil fuel burning and a global emergency response."
Richard Weir, 60, who also took part in the protest, said: "I started my career in the shipyards of Tyneside and I watched management inaction lead to the collapse of UK manufacturing.
“Now I see similar failures of leadership as politicians refuse to take action to protect us and our loved ones. We’re already seeing the damage this crisis is doing to crops, homes and entire neighbourhoods.
“Unless we come together and demand a move away from fossil fuels by 2030, we will go the same way as manufacturing in the UK. Just Stop Oil be taking action outside parliament this April."
Bafta-award winning actress Weaver plays the storm-creating magician Prospero in the new staging of the Shakespeare classic, in a role typically played by a man.
The production opened in December and will run until February 1.
Earlier this month two women were charged with criminal damage after chalk paint was sprayed on Charles Darwin’s grave in Westminster Abbey.
The words “1.5 is dead” were written in orange on the 19th century biologist’s grave on Monday, referring to attempts to limit global warming to 1.5C and reduce the impact of climate change.
Anyone who was at the performance and witnessed this incident, or who has information that could assist this investigation, is asked to call officers on 101 quoting CAD 2453/28JAN.
