Protesters for the local weather activism group Simply Cease Oil climbed onto the stage at a West Finish manufacturing of The Tempest, interrupting star Sigourney Weaver to boost a banner protesting the federal government’s response to international warming.
Halfway via a efficiency on Monday (January 27), Weaver and her fellow solid members have been on stage on the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London.
The scene noticed two protesters stroll on with a banner saying “Over 1.5 levels is a worldwide shipwreck”, a reference to the premise of The Tempest the place the passengers of a ship are stranded on a magical island.
The message on the banner additionally alludes to the current announcement that 2024 was the warmest on document globally, the primary full 12 months when the typical temperature exceeded 1.5C above the pre-industrial common, thought-about by many to be the edge to keep away from local weather catastrophe.
They then launched a confetti canon, whereas Weaver was led away by a member of workers and an announcement mentioned: “We’ll should cease the present, girls and gents, sorry.” The group principally booed and heckled the pair, though there have been cheers and applause from some members of the viewers.
🚨 BREAKING: THE TEMPEST WEST END PERFORMANCE DISRUPTED
🎭 2 Simply Cease Oil supporters climbed onto the stage, stopping a efficiency starring legendary actor Sigourney Weaver.
🖋️ 1.5 levels is a worldwide shipwreck. Join motion this April: https://t.co/guLYY5sk5C
Video… pic.twitter.com/2BIxCVT4lO
— Simply Cease Oil (@JustStop_Oil) January 27, 2025
The protesters onstage have been recognized as Hayley Walsh, a lecturer and mom of three from Nottingham; in addition to Richard Weir, a mechanical engineer from Tynemouth. Each gave statements through a press launch from Simply Cease Oil following the occasion.
Within the launch, Walsh mentioned: “1.5 levels is a worldwide shipwreck we will’t ignore. Wildfires in California, lethal floods in Valencia and a whole lot of 1000’s with out energy within the UK this weekend. This isn’t a distant, future drawback. We want a worldwide treaty to cease fossil gasoline burning and a worldwide emergency response.”
Weir adopted by saying: “We’re already seeing the harm this disaster is doing to crops, houses and whole neighbourhoods. Except we come collectively and demand a transfer away from fossil fuels by 2030, we’ll go the identical approach as manufacturing within the UK.”
Right now (January 28), the Metropolitan Police confirmed mentioned a 42-year-old girl and a 60-year-old man had been arrested and have been being held in custody on suspicion of aggravated trespass. Alien star Weaver seems within the play till February 1.
The demonstration is the newest in a variety of protests by the organisation, who’ve disrupted Premier League soccer matches, System One races, and the 2022 BAFTA Movie Awards amongst others. Final 12 months, Liam Gallagher criticised the group for protesting on Stone Henge.
