The evening performance, in London’s West End, was halted and did not resume.
Image source, Just Stop OilFive people have been arrested after Just Stop Oil protesters halted a West End performance of Les Miserables.
A video shared by the group showed its members storming the stage and asking the audience to “join the rebellion”.
The Met said police officers were “called to a protest inside a theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue” at about 21:00.
Just Stop Oil, an environmental activist group, is known for staging demonstrations at public events – more recently tennis matches at Wimbledon.
The protesters appeared at each end of the stage during a performance of the show’s famous song One Day More – a song about hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
They held up orange banners showing the group’s logo, before the show’s cast – after attempting to continue – were escorted offstage.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Just Stop Oil said four people had “locked” themselves to the stage.
“Valjean steals bread to feed a starving child. How long before we are all forced to steal?” it added. Valjean is the protagonist in Les Miserables.
The post continued: “The fossil fuel show can’t go on.”
In the footage of the demonstration, audience members are heard booing and telling the protesters to “get off”.
Just Stop Oil said the performance was stopped and the theatre was evacuated by 21:10.
William Village, chief executive of Delfont Mackintosh Theatres – which owns the Sondheim where Les Miserables is currently playing – said “safety protocols” had to be followed and “the audience were asked to leave the auditorium and the Met Police attended”.
“Regrettably, there was insufficient time to enable us to complete the rest of the performance,” he told the PA news agency.
“Whilst we recognise the importance of free expression, we must also respect our audience’s right to enjoy the event for which they have paid.”
In another video, Just Stop Oil member Hanan explained why she and the group had chosen to target the production.
“Les Mis is about the June Rebellion, where ordinary people stood up [and] organised themselves against a government that consistently showed no interest in their wellbeing,” the 22-year-old student said.
She went on to condemn Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for approving “hundreds of gas and oil licenses, knowing the full consequences this will have on our climate and our society”.
On its website, Just Stop Oil says its ultimate aim is to “demand that the UK government stop licensing all new oil, gas and coal projects”.