Theatregoers at Shakespeare’s Globe were forced to evacuate after a firework plunged into the open-air London venue last night.
The performance of William Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra was halted at around 10pm on Wednesday as the play neared its finale, when red-coloured fireworks lit up the night’s sky and shouting could be heard.
A spent firework plummeted into the standing section of the theatre, missing audience members by fractions and causing a smell of smoke.
Tooting resident Mark Johnson, who was attending the play on his 30th birthday, claimed it was a ‘miracle’ nobody was hurt.
It is believed the firework was set off as part of a display by football fans celebrating the birthday of an Algerian club, with videos on social media showing dozens of pyrotechnics lighting up the sky above the Thames.
Theatregoers at Shakespeare’s Globe (pictured) were forced to evacuate this evening after a firework plunged into the open-air London venue
The unlit flare can be seen on the wooden stage floor after the pyrotechnic plummeted into the standing section of the theatre, missing audience members by fractions
It is believed the firework was set off as part of a display by Algerian football fans celebrating the 103rd birthday of their club MC Alger, with images online showing the sky above the Thames flooded with red smoke
Mark Johnson said he was confused by the bright red light, which even seemed to catch the performers on stage off guard.
He said: ‘It was really confusing. It felt like it was near the end of the performance when we saw bright red lights in the sky.
‘Most of the audience looked up and we saw fireworks and there was a general sense of confusion. Even the actors and actresses looked up.’
Members of staff appeared on stage to stop the performance and direct audience members to the basement, where they remained for 20 minutes before being told they could leave the venue.
As they made their way to the basement, a message was shown on a screen on the stage.
It read: ‘Unfortunately it is necessary to end the performance. Please exit the theatre following direction from our stewarding team.
‘The ticketing team will process refunds as soon as possible and contact you if necessary.’
The flare is thought to have been fired as part of a celebration display marking the brithday of Algerian football team Mouloudia Club d’Alger, which was founded on August 7, 1921.
Tooting resident Mark Johnson, who was attending the play on his 30th birthday, claimed it was a ‘miracle’ nobody was hurt
The capital’s night sky was lit up with dozens of flares close to the Millennium Bridge pn Wednesday evening
But many people were unaware of the event and were left baffled by the huge pyrotechnics display, which also took place in Dublin and the Algerian capital of Algiers.
Londoner Mark Buchanan likened the scenes, which saw the capital’s night sky lit up with dozens of flares close to the Millennium Bridge, to something out of a war movie.
He wrote on X: ‘I expect it’s nothing – but a big load of flares just went off Red Dawn style near my flat in Central London.’
Ollie Balm also saw the flares erupt into the sky all the way from Croydon.
He added: ‘I’m glad someone else saw this. I live all the way over in Croydon and saw 10 or 12 red flares all shoot into the air at the same time nearby the Shard. Thought I was seeing things.’
Posts on social media also show flares being let off in Dublin and Algiers.
An account which claimed to be the official account of Mouloudia Club d’Alger shared footage of dozens of flares illuminating the night sky in Algeria.
The account said on X: ‘Al-Ameed fans set the atmosphere on fire with a fantastic caravan that lit up the capital’s sky on a night like no other.’
It also shared a video of the team setting off green and red flares as they appeared to celebrate the club’s milestone.
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