A theatre in Manchester had to stop a show 10 minutes before the end after a 'riot' broke out among the audience.

Lovers of the stage had headed to the Palace Theatre on Oxford Street for a showing of The Bodyguard.

However chaos erupted a short time before the conclusion as it was reported audience members tried to sing over the cast.

The last 10 minutes of the musical were axed on Friday night after some members of the audience refused to remain seated and refrain from loudly singing.

Police sent six officers in two cars and a transit van to the scene.

Ayden Callaghan, who was starring as Frank Farmer, said: "Theatre pulled the show at the end tonight because of disgusting behaviour.

"We wanted to carry on but it had become a major incident.

"I’m really sorry to what was 99.9% a brilliant audience that a few badly behaved individuals ruined it."

 

Coral Mckeown said: "I can’t believe we were 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 person said: "I 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."

The show in question was scheduled to run bewteen April 3 and 15 at the venue.

Former Pussycat Dolls star Melody Thornton is starring as central character Rachel Marron.

Speaking in a video posted to her Instagram story on Friday evening, she said: “I wanted to send a really special message to people in Manchester who came to the show tonight to say thank you so much.

“I respect that you paid your money and I am so grateful to everyone who respects the people on stage who want to give you a beautiful show. For everything that happened tonight, I don’t have all of the details, I just am very, very sorry that we couldn’t finish the show. I fought really hard. It feels awful, and I just hope that we see you again.

“The Bodyguard is a great show. It’s a wonderful story and love story. And I know people were out to see just a really beautiful show. I thank everyone who was respectful of the performers, and I’m very sorry for those who weren’t. I hope that we see you soon. That’s it. Thank you love you.”

A police spokesperson said: "Officers were called to the Palace Theatre last night, 7 April 2023, after staff reported a number of people in the audience causing a disturbance.

"Two people removed by security staff were spoken to by police and a decision about any further action will be made once the evidence has been reviewed."

Tash Kenyon, a 27-year-old payroll clerk from the Wirral, said she and her mother Jan Kenyon, a nurse, had gone to see the show for Jan’s 65th birthday.

Tash said: “Before the performance the stewards were walking up and down the aisles with signs saying ‘please refrain from singing along’ – they were incredibly hard to miss. Two announcements were made as well saying ‘please don’t sing’ and that the audience would have a chance to join in in the finale.

“The show was halted about 20 minutes in as some guests were singing. The guests were removed, and the show continued. The show had about 10 minutes left when the lead started performing I Will Always Love You.

“Someone shouted ‘Does this mean we can start singing now?’ Which set the audience off laughing, and that’s when the singing started over the top of the lead’s vocals.

“The show stopped a minute later, the lights went on, and I couldn’t see from my seat but I could hear the commotion from the 2nd tier of seats, and people were looking up shocked.

“I’m pretty sure some women were being forcibly removed. We had to catch the train home, so we decided to just leave, and when we got to the foyer we were told the show had been cancelled and everyone had to leave anyway.

“There was already a police van outside, then two more showed up, one very nearly hitting me and my mum as we tried to cross the road.”

A 60-year-old audience member said that following the shouts of ‘can we sing now’ “security intervened and a scuffle broke out and police were called – one police van and two police cars”.

A spokesperson for The Palace Theatre confirmed that despite the disruption on Friday, scheduled performances of the show will take place as normal.

A statement said: “The performance of The Bodyguard at The Palace Theatre, Manchester, was stopped at 9.40pm last night and not continued.

“We are disappointed that the last 10 minutes of the show needed to be cancelled due to disruptive customers refusing to stay seated and spoiling the performance for others.

“We are grateful to our venue teams for dealing with these difficult circumstances in a professional and calm way, and to Greater Manchester Police for their assistance.

“Future performances will continue as planned and we ask that customers are considerate towards the cast, fellow audience members and theatre team so that everyone can enjoy the wonderful entertainment on stage.”

The touring theatre production follows Secret Service agent-turned-bodyguard Frank Farmer as he is hired to protect superstar Rachel from an unknown stalker.