ianstone
10-04-2010, 03:29 PM
Actor 'Shot' In Eye During Onstage Duel
4:58pm UK, Monday October 04, 2010
Elizabeth Scott, Sky News Online
Performances of a West End play have been cancelled after an actor was shot in the eye during an onstage duel.
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Oct/Week1/15751434.jpg Actor David Birrell as Colonel Ricci in Stephen Sondheim's play Passion
David Birrell sustained a serious eye injury during Saturday's matinee performance of Stephen Sondheim's Passion.
A defective firearm is thought to be at fault.
The 35-year-old was taken to hospital after the incident at London's Donmar Warehouse (http://www.donmarwarehouse.com/).
Birrell was injured during a scene where his character, Colonel Ricci, challenges Giorgio (played by David Thaxton) to a duel.
The theatre has cancelled all shows from Monday to Wednesday but is hoping to resume the production on Thursday.
Theatre bosses are investigating how the incident occurred.
A Donmar spokesperson said: "Following initial inquiries into the accident at the theatre on Saturday, it appears that during the duel scene in Passion, David Birrell’s licensed replica stage gun mis-fired causing some debris to enter his eye.
"We are, as a matter of priority, carrying out further investigations into the incident.
"David is recovering well in hospital and is in good spirits
"Our priorities are to David's well-being and recovery; and to theatregoers who have purchased tickets for performances in the coming days.
4:58pm UK, Monday October 04, 2010
Elizabeth Scott, Sky News Online
Performances of a West End play have been cancelled after an actor was shot in the eye during an onstage duel.
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Oct/Week1/15751434.jpg Actor David Birrell as Colonel Ricci in Stephen Sondheim's play Passion
David Birrell sustained a serious eye injury during Saturday's matinee performance of Stephen Sondheim's Passion.
A defective firearm is thought to be at fault.
The 35-year-old was taken to hospital after the incident at London's Donmar Warehouse (http://www.donmarwarehouse.com/).
Birrell was injured during a scene where his character, Colonel Ricci, challenges Giorgio (played by David Thaxton) to a duel.
The theatre has cancelled all shows from Monday to Wednesday but is hoping to resume the production on Thursday.
Theatre bosses are investigating how the incident occurred.
A Donmar spokesperson said: "Following initial inquiries into the accident at the theatre on Saturday, it appears that during the duel scene in Passion, David Birrell’s licensed replica stage gun mis-fired causing some debris to enter his eye.
"We are, as a matter of priority, carrying out further investigations into the incident.
"David is recovering well in hospital and is in good spirits
"Our priorities are to David's well-being and recovery; and to theatregoers who have purchased tickets for performances in the coming days.