Dozens of people are injured, at least four seriously, after part of a roof in London’s Apollo Theatre collapsed during a show, emergency workers have said.
The venue in Shaftesbury Avenue was packed for a performance of the Curious Incident Of The Dog in the Night-Time.
Representatives from London Ambulance Service, the London Fire Brigade and the Metropolitan Police held a news conference after the incident.
Eyewitnesses heard “a crackling” noise before the collapse at about 20:15 GMT. Theatre-goers left covered in debris.
The Apollo’s owner described it as a “shocking and upsetting” incident and said an investigation was under way.
London Fire Brigade said its “search is now complete” and the theatre has been sealed off.
Eight fire engines and more than 50 firefighters attended the incident in London’s busy West End theatre district, along with hundreds of police officers.
The Apollo’s ornate plasterwork ceiling collapsed and brought down part of the lighting rig, it said.
In a media briefing, the fire brigade said its officers inspected the theatre’s roof via an aerial ladder platform that had been raised above the building.