Five in custody after Just Stop Oil activists halt performance of Les Miserables
The activists stormed the Sondheim Theatre stage during a performance of Do You Hear The People Sing? on Wednesday evening.
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Your support makes all the difference.Five Just Stop Oil protesters arrested after a performance of Les Miserables in London’s West End was halted remain in custody as police appealed for anyone with footage of the protest to get in touch.
Several activists “invaded” the stage at the Sondheim Theatre during Do You Hear The People Sing?, locking themselves onto it with flexible bicycle locks.
The performance did not resume and the Metropolitan Police later confirmed five people aged 28, 23, 22, 19 and 18 were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass.
Audience members will be offered refunds or tickets for another performance following the protest on Wednesday.
Catherine Francoise, from Buckinghamshire, was in the audience with a group of more than 30 people who she organises theatre trips for.
She said she has watched Les Miserables more than 50 times and spoke of how she was sitting “in the centre of the front row”, claiming that the protesters from Just Stop Oil were seated at either end of the second row.
The professional singer and organiser at VPA Theatre Trips told the PA news agency: “I could see out the corner of my eye something happening on the left, I noticed first, and I knew it wasn’t part of the production.
“The cast were still going, the orchestra was still playing, and after about 15 seconds, somebody came on stage and moved the cast off.
“Meanwhile, security were on it trying to get the girls off that were on the left hand side.
“I thought they had stuck themselves (to the floor), but it turns out they had actually cable-tied themselves together, and then padlocked themselves together, and then padlocked that to part of the scenery.”
Ms Francoise added that as one of the protesters walked up to the stage carrying a banner, a member of her party who was sitting at the end of the first row “grabbed the banner and threw it off”.
She explained that first, the cast members were removed from the stage, shortly followed by the orchestra, with the audience being asked to leave around 15 minutes later.
“The audience were definitely making far, far more noise than the protesters,” she said.
“Later on when we were evacuated out, there was a young girl, she was about 12 or 13, and she was crying.
“The adults were just furious, but the younger people might’ve been shocked or a bit frightened about what was happening.”
She added: “(We were) disappointed, really, really disappointed.
“Everybody was gutted last night.”
In a video of the incident, audience members can be heard booing the demonstrators.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Just Stop Oil wrote: “4 people are locked to the stage of the French-revolution-themed show.
“Valjean steals bread to feed a starving child. How long before we are all forced to steal?”
The protest group revealed that Hannah Taylor, 23, and Poppy Bliss, 19, were among the demonstrators as it branded the Government’s rolling back of net zero targets and approval for new oil and gas licences “genocidal”.
Ms Taylor, who is a community worker, said: “The show starts with Jean Valjean stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister’s starving child. How long before we are all forced to steal loaves of bread? How long before there are riots on the streets? The show cannot go on.
“Am I not, like Jean Valjean, justified in breaking the law to oppose this criminal Government and its murderous policies?”
Ms Bliss, who is a student, said: “I am taking action with Just Stop Oil because I am absolutely terrified for my future. I don’t want to be disrupting people’s evenings out, but I have been left with no other choice.
“Our Government is betraying the young and putting everyone’s futures on the line for the sake of a few votes. I am doing this because I am desperate.
“We are frighteningly close to losing everything we love. Everything we know will be destroyed by climate collapse.”
Detective Inspector Chris Rudd of the Met’s Public Order Command said: “Many of those in the audience will have travelled significant distances, having purchased tickets months in advance, and it is unacceptable that demonstrators have targeted a specific group of people in order to ruin what should have been a special night out.
“We are aware of footage circulating on social media, but ask anyone with additional footage to get in touch as this will help us bring those responsible to account.”
William Village, chief executive of Delfont Mackintosh Theatres – which owns the Sondheim, said: “During the first half of our performance of Les Miserables, individuals from Just Stop Oil invaded the stage, abruptly stopping the show.
“Following our safety protocols, the audience were asked to leave the auditorium and the Met Police attended.
“Regrettably, there was insufficient time to enable us to complete the rest of the performance.
“Whilst we recognise the importance of free expression, we must also respect our audience’s right to enjoy the event for which they have paid.”
On Thursday, the Les Miserables company announced a booking extension from March 2 to September 28 2024.
Police urge anyone with footage to contact them on 101, online or by tweeting Tweet ‘X’ @MetCC quoting 2074/5OCT.