London's Old Vic theatre is evacuated after 'bomb threat'

London's Old Vic theatre is evacuated after 'bomb threat'



Star Wars actor John Boyega has been caught up in a bomb scare at London's Old Vic theatre where he is starring in Cold War play Woyzeck.

Stunned onlookers said the 25-year-old Hollywood star was ordered to leave the stage during the drama in Waterloo in the centre of the British capital.

He was spotted 'walking down the street' to an evacuation point with the 1,000-strong audience and other cast members after police rushed everyone out of the Grade II-listed theatre, which first opened in the 1800s.

Officers are said to have raised 'concerns' about an object found in the building with staff in fluorescent jackets flooding the auditorium and calling a halt to the performance 10 minutes in.

Roads were cordond off with emergency vehicles and fire engines in attendance at the scene while police dogs were spotted searching the area.

Boyega has won critical acclaim for his role in Woyzeck and has been described as 'compelling to watch' in the gritty play, which is set in 1980s Berlin.



More than 1,000 people are thought to have been evacuated from the theatre which was reportedly at full capacity.

Liam Joseph, who was in the audience but is himself an usher, told MailOnline: 'I knew something was up.



'When that [an evacuation] happens it's either a fire drill or it might be a bomb.

'The company manager came on while John Boyega was on stage, asked the audience to remain calm and said the show was going to end. Then the duty manager said 'please evacuate'.



The front of house staff in their fluorescent jackets evacuated everyone out safely and quickly in two or three minutes - it was incredible.

'As we were being evacuated police cordoned off the area.

He added: 'John Boyega was just with us walking down the street. It was all done very efficiently with a real sense of calm but your heart's in your mouth and not many people knew what was going to happen.'

The Old Vic said in a statement: 'We have been evacuated as a precaution; audience safety is our priority. We are liaising with the Met Police.'

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'Police were called at 14:38pm on Saturday, May 27, to The Cut, Waterloo, to a report of a security alert at a theatre.

'The theatre took the decision to evacuate the building. Road closures have been put in place. Specialist officers are on the scene.'