In a bold move, five individuals associated with the environmental activist group “Just Stop Oil” were arrested after interrupting a West End performance of Les Miserables at the Sondheim Theatre. The group shared a video showcasing members storming the stage, urging the audience to “join the rebellion.”
The Metropolitan Police responded to a call reporting a protest inside the theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue around 21:00. Just Stop Oil, recognised for staging demonstrations at public events, had previously targeted Wimbledon tennis matches.
During the disruption, protesters emerged at both ends of the stage during the iconic protest song “Do You Hear The People Sing?” from Les Miserables. Displaying orange banners with the group’s logo, they temporarily halted the performance before the cast, attempting to continue, was escorted offstage.
“Do You Hear The People Sing?” is known for its revolutionary theme and has been adopted by various protest movements globally, including the 2019 Hong Kong demonstrations.
In a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Just Stop Oil revealed that four individuals had “locked” themselves to the stage, emphasising the connection between Valjean’s act of stealing bread to feed a starving child and the urgency of addressing environmental issues. The post declared, “The fossil fuel show can’t go on.”
The disruption elicited mixed reactions from the audience, with some booing and demanding the protesters to “get off.” Just Stop Oil claimed that the performance was halted, and the theatre was evacuated by 21:10.
