David Tennant faced stage disruptions again during Macbeth, as chaos continues at the West End production with health concerns and cast changes
London: So, it seems like David Tennant just can’t catch a break lately. During a recent performance of Macbeth, he had to leave the stage again. This was just a few days after another chaotic incident.
Earlier in the week, a guy in the audience caused a ruckus by trying to get back to his seat before the break. It really threw off the show at the Harold Pinter Theatre.
David, who’s 53, was asked to step off for about 15 minutes while things settled down. Apparently, a lot of people were getting upset about the whole situation.
Last month, there were even some shows that got canceled last minute because of “company illness.” You can imagine how disappointed ticket holders must have felt.
Then, on Friday night, things got a bit wild again. The audience was given face masks and Covid tests as part of a health safety push. But the real drama happened when Rona Morison, who plays Lady Macduff, lost her voice and had to leave the stage.
David stepped off for about five minutes while Gemma Laurie jumped in as the understudy. Fans were not happy about the last-minute changes and took to social media to vent their frustrations.
One audience member praised Gemma for stepping in so quickly, but it was still a tough week for David, having to leave the stage twice.
In light of all this, a grassroots campaign called Protect the Heart of the Arts held an event outside the theatre. They’re pushing for better safety measures for performers, handing out masks and tests to the audience.
Charles Waltz, one of the campaign’s co-founders, mentioned that the recent cancellations could be due to a mix of seasonal illnesses and the toll of performing. He also pointed out that Covid-19 can have lingering effects on singers and actors.
They’re advocating for on-site testing to help keep everyone healthy and reduce cancellations. The Harold Pinter Theatre has been reached for comments, but it’s clear that the situation is still pretty tense.