It's curtain down for Chimerica performance as set breaks

Hundreds of theatregoers were left bitterly disappointed when the performance of a top-selling West End play was cancelled 30 minutes from the end because of a set malfunction.

The revolving set at the Harold Pinter Theatre in Panton Street broke down with a loud bang during yesterday’s matinee showing of Chimerica, about the Tiananmen Square protest in China in 1989.

The cast apparently immediately knew it was curtains for the performance and a theatre representative duly explained to the audience that the show was over and tickets for alternatives dates would be offered.

It was not possible to repair the technical malfunction straightaway so the evening performance also had to be cancelled at significant loss of revenue.

Alfred Lee, 62, a travel writer from Wapping, said: “I felt angry and upset. I understand that these things happen but obviously many of the audience were frustrated at not knowing how the play ended.

“They didn’t know whether the central character in the play - the man who famously stood in front of the tank during the Tiananmen Square protest - was, according to the play, alive or dead.”

Mr Lee said he had spoken to a friend among the cast about the malfunction, adding: “He said the cast heard a loud bang and they all knew immediately that there was something seriously wrong and the performance would not be able to continue.

“The revolving set plays a key part in the play which moves from Beijing to Tiananmen Square to New York.

“Arrangements were made for people to attend another showing but there were no refunds. Tickets cost up to £50 - I got mine through my cast friend.”

Fortunately for Mr Lee, he had already seen the play performed at the Almeida Theatre in Islington so knew how it ended.