Chichester Festival Theatre cancels Midsummer Night's Dream after cast attack

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 08:03 · Archive

Chichester Festival Theatre cancelled a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream after a cast member was attacked.

The Tuesday evening performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream at Chichester Festival Theatre was cancelled after audience members had taken their seats. Artistic director Justin Audibert announced the cancellation, saying a cast member had been attacked 'earlier today'. He did not specify which cast member or give details of when or where the attack occurred, but confirmed that police were involved.

Audibert said that he, the cast and crew were 'incredibly shaken' by the incident. He expressed his disappointment that the show could not go ahead as planned and apologised to the audience, saying the theatre would offer refunds. He urged audience members to 'be careful on your journeys home'.

The matinee performance at 2.30pm that day ran without incident. The production stars actor and comedian Munya Chawawa and transposes Shakespeare's play to 1990s Sussex and rave culture. Chawawa had not commented publicly on the incident at the time of reporting.

How it is being reported

• Chichester Festival Theatre show cancelled after incidentChichester Festival TheatreChichester Observer · 14 Oct, 07:28
• Theatre show cancelled last-minute after member of cast attackedA show at a West Sussex theatre has been cancelled at the last minute after a member of the cast was attackedThe Argus · 13 Oct, 19:58

In this story: Chichester Festival Theatre · Justin Audibert · Munya Chawawa · Chichester · West Sussex

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