Just Stop Oil interrupted a performance of Les Miserables and shut down the show in the West End this evening.
The crowd booed and jeered as eco-activists clambered onto the stage, holding the group’s orange banner, at the Sondheim Theatre in Shaftesbury, London during a performance of the show’s famous song One More Day.
The Metropolitan Police arrested people following the disruption at the musical, which depicts a failed republican rebellion against the French state and costs up to £200 per ticket.
One furious theatre-goer shouted: ‘Get off you stupid people. How dare you.’
Another shouted: ‘You naughty people, you naughty people.’
As others booed and jeered the eco protesters, a man near the front snatched away one of the eco mob’s banners.
Video shows the theatre crowd booing as eco-activists clambered onto the stage holding the group’s orange banner
The group said in a statement that four people were ‘locked to the stage of the French-revolution-themed show’
The crowd booed and jeered as eco-activists clambered onto the stage holding the group’s orange banner at the Sondheim Theatre in Shaftesbury
Just Stop Oil said that four protesters locked themselves to the stage to the stage of the French-revolution-themed show’ using flexible bicycle locks at around 8.50pm.
‘Valjean steals bread to feed a starving child. How long before we are all forced to steal?’
In video of the incident, audience members can be heard booing the demonstrators.
The climate change group said that the performance was stopped and the theatre was evacuated by 9.10pm.
Police have since confirmed that five people were arrested at the theatre. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Met said: ‘At about 9pm tonight, police were called to a protest inside a theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, WC1.
‘Local officers were quickly on scene and five people have been arrested.’
Social media users were quick to point out that JSO was incorrect is saying the play was set during the French revolution. Others slammed the eco mob for their actions.
One X user said: ‘This is just embarrassing. Get a life.’
Another added: ‘Imagine being this entitled. Just stop oil think their opinions justify ruining everyone else’s morning, day and evening. Incredibly selfish and unhelpful, damaging their own cause.’
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Community worker Hannah Taylor, 23, was one of protesters. She 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?
She added: ‘How long before there are riots on the streets? The show cannot go on. We are facing catastrophe. New oil and gas means crop failure, starvation and death. It is an act of war on the global south and an utter betrayal of young people.
‘Rishi Sunak has just approved Rosebank, a new oil project in the north sea which will produce as much carbon as the annual emissions of the 28 lowest-income countries combined. It will lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths due to starvation as crops fail in the increasingly extreme weather conditions.
‘Am I not, like Jean Valjean, justified in breaking the law to oppose this criminal government and its murderous policies? Ask yourself, will you, like the citizens of Paris in the play, stand by and watch, or will you stand up against our governments’ criminal plans and call for an end to new oil and gas?’
Just Stop Oil said two of the protesters were called Hanan (left) – a 22-year-old student – and Noah, 18 (right)
Just Stop Oil said two of the protesters were called Hanan – a 22-year-old student – and Noah, 18.
The group said: ‘Hanan, a student, took action because the UK Government, by approving new oil and gas has shown total disregard for their wellbeing.
‘Noah, a theatre lover, took action because he knows there’s no future for the arts if society fails under the pressures of climate collapse.’
In another video posted online eco-warrior Hanan said: ‘I’m taking action with Just Stop Oil by disrupting a Les Mis performance tonight.
‘Les Mis is about the June rebellion where ordinary people stood up, organised themselves against a government that consistently showed no interest in their wellbeing.
‘The UK Government has approved hundreds of gas and oil licences knowing the full consequences this will have on our climate and our society.
‘So why wait? Take action.’
The republican June Rebellion of 1832 inspired Victor Hugo’s novel Les Misérables, which was published in 1862.
The rebellion failed and didn’t last for long because it lacked support from the public.
In another video posted online eco-warrior Hanan said: ‘I’m taking action with Just Stop Oil by disrupting a Les Mis performance tonight’
She added: ‘Les Mis is about the June rebellion where ordinary people stood up, organised themselves against a government that consistently showed no interest in their wellbeing’
This evening, officers from Scotland Yard were called to the Sondheim Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue and said they are currently ‘dealing’. Pictured: JSO protesters interrupting the performance this evening
This evening, officers from Scotland Yard were called to the Sondheim Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue and said they are currently ‘dealing’.
The Metropolitan Police said: ‘At approximately 9pm on Wednesday 4 October police were called to reports of a small number of protesters at a theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue.
‘Officers are on scene and dealing.’
Just Stop Oil member Hannah Taylor 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.
‘We are facing catastrophe. New oil and gas means crop failure, starvation and death. It is an act of war on the global south and an utter betrayal of young people.’
