Woman is dragged out of audience at The Bodyguard because she refused to stop singing as show is stopped and fights break out when riot police are called in
- ‘Mini riots’ broke out when audience members disrupted a performance
- Several audience members were dragged out of the theatre by security
A woman was dragged out of a performance of The Bodyguard by security after she refused to stop singing along despite the venue’s rules.
Shocking footage shows the moment the woman was forcibly removed from the Palace Theatre in Manchester as riot police were called.
The musical was forced to end early after audience members refused to stop singing over the performers.
The show was paused in its first act as staff at the theatre were forced to drag out several people singing loudly during the performance.
It was halted again just 10 minutes from the final curtain as police arrived on the scene.
A performance of The Bodyguard was stopped early after audience members sparked chaos
Police arrived at the theatre after ‘mini riots’ broke out and people disrupted the show in Manchester
Others attending said that ‘fights’ and ‘mini riots’ erupted in the theatre during the chaotic performance, Manchester Evening News reported.
Footage taken at the event shows women being dragged from the top tier of the theatre.
Members of the audience applaud security guards as they are dragged outside.
Around six police officers were pictured at the venue, while several police vans were parked outside.
One witness said that officers stopped the show during a rowdy rendition of I Will Always Love you.
One person at the show said online: ‘Seen a lot of reports about bad behaviour at the theatre lately, and wondered if they were a bit overblown. Anyway, at the Palace tonight and they had to stop the show during the first act to eject disruptive audience members.
‘They’ve had to stop the show AGAIN during the finale because of people shouting out, screaming and being incredibly disruptive. Just unbelievably disrespectful to the actors. And they’re refusing to leave. This is horrendous. Never seen anything like it.
‘They decided not to finish the performance because of the disruption. Feel so sorry for the whole cast. Respect to all the staff at the Manchester Palace for trying to deal with an incredibly difficult situation. Three police vehicles outside the theatre. Awful.’
Another said: ‘There was a lot of heckling at Melody Thornton [the lead singer] who was on the stage solo at this point,’ she said.
‘Her mic was cut and the curtain was brought down for the second time. A fight broke out in the upper stands as security tried to deal with members of the audience.
‘It was about ten mins to the end after an earlier stoppage in the show as others were removed.’
Others at the show took to social media to vent their frustration at the disruption.
One said: ‘Can’t believe we was all kicked out 10 minutes before the end. Disrespectful idiots singing and screaming. I felt for the amazing performers and gutted I didn’t get to see the end.’
Another added: ‘Went to The Palace Theatre in Manchester to watch The Bodyguard and a bunch of entitled p***** starting singing over the lead during the final song. A riot broke out, the show was cancelled and the police were called.’
An audience member said: ‘Just been to watch the bodyguard at the palace and a mini riot erupted during the big ending,show cancelled people being physically removed and fights in the aisle’s. All because you can’t sing along !!!!! Police at the scene!!! Utter madness.’
