Audience members arriving to watch The King and I at Newcastle's Theatre Royal tonight had to be evacuated after a fire broke out ahead of the performance.
Firefighters were called to the theatre at 6.54pm to what crews believed to be an alarm activation, however, on arrival, they discovered that a "small fire" had broken out on the fourth floor.
Theatre staff evacuated the building with a crowd of 1,200 spectators and cast members were told to wait outside on Grey Street while the emergency services dealt with the incident.
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Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) has confirmed that the fire was caused by an electrical fault within the air conditioning unit and that no-one was injured.
Firefighters then left the scene at 8.14pm around 45 minutes after the show was due to begin and the audience was then allowed back into the theatre for the performance.
A Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) spokeswoman said: "TWFRS control received a call at 6.54pm this evening to a report of alarms activating at Newcastle Theatre Royal. Two crews from Newcastle Central fire station were mobilised to the incident and crews arrived on the scene within four minutes of the call.
"On arrival, crews located an electrical service room on the fourth floor and found it to be smoke logged. Two breathing apparatus wearers and two ventilation fans were used to clear the smoke from the room which was caused by an electrical fault within the air conditioning unit.
"Due to the swift action of the Theatre Royal staff, approximately 1,200 cast members, spectators, and staff were safely evacuated and unharmed.
"Once the incident was dealt with the spectators, crew and staff were allowed back into the venue. Crews left the scene at around 8.14pm."
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