Actress Sigourney Weaver was forced to stop her performance of The Tempest in a West End show on Monday evening as protesters invaded the stage, with two people subsequently arrested.
Just Stop Oil activists interrupted the show as they held up a bright banner. It read: “Over 1.5 degrees is a global shipwreck”. The two stage invaders launched a confetti cannon as they displayed the message.
Activists chose to make their entrance after Weaver emphatically delivered the line ‘Come forth’. A voice could then be heard announcing: “We’ll have to stop the show ladies and gentlemen, sorry.”
That was when the audience erupted in boos and Sigourney was escorted off the stage by security. Some of the crowd could be heard yelling at the protestors to “get off the stage”.
The sign was a reference to the recent announcement that 2024 had been the warmest on record globally. Protester Hayley Walsh, 42, explained: “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.”
The other protester, mechanical engineer Richard Weird, added: “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.”
A spokesman for Just Stop Oil added: “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.” They are demanding the UK government phase out fossil fuel burning by 2030.
Despite their attempts to get a world-saving message across, the actions taken by the activists angered theatre-lovers. Posting to X/Twitter, one complained: “I get the message. But disrupting art and a performance is not cool.”
Another added: “It’s a shame that Just Stop Oil have to resort to these tactics to get people talking about climate change. If our governments were listening this wouldn’t need to happen. All the moaners in the comments should be lobbying the government to act seriously on climate change.”
A third fumed: “F***ing muppets spoiling things for others. People are sick to death of you. All you’re doing is alienating people.”
However, others applauded the actions, with one writing: “I am hoping she supports your movement,” and another adding: “I’m a stagehand for this show, I want to thank you on behalf of everyone and the audience, we support you in your cause, as does the whole of England, keep up the great work!”
Two people – a 42-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man – were subsequently arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass after attending a central London police station on Tuesday. They remain in custody.
Anyone who was at the performance and witnessed the incident, or who has information that could assist this investigation, is asked to call officers on 101 quoting CAD 2453/28JAN. They can also ‘X’ @MetCC.
If this unexpected Just Stop Oil protest hasn’t put you off, you can still buy tickets to see Sigourney Weaver in The Tempest up until February 1, 2025.
The show, which is taking place at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane, stars the Ghostbusters actress as Prospero, alongside Gavin And Stacey star Mathew Horne as Trinculo.
Tickets can be found most easily at resale websites viagogo and StubHub. Here’s the links you need: