Just Stop Oil disrupts Sigourney Weaver West End play – BBC.com
Two people have been arrested after protesters from Just Stop Oil disrupted a performance of The Tempest, starring Sigourney Weaver in London’s West End.A man and a woman from the environmental campaign group climbed on to the stage at Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Monday evening.They launched a confetti canon and a voice called out: “We’ll have to stop the show, ladies and gents, sorry.” Hollywood actress Weaver, who had been sitting in a chair on stage, was escorted away by a member of the theatre’s staff.On Tuesday, police said a 42-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man had been arrested.The Metropolitan Police said the pair were being held in custody on suspicion of aggravated trespass.A video shared by Just Stop Oil showed the protesters being met with boos from the audience – but also a few cheers – before they were then guided off stage after less than a minute. Alien star Weaver and another actor had been mid-scene when they were interrupted. The protesters had been holding an orange banner reading “Over 1.5 degrees is a global shipwreck”.It was a nod to the plot of Shakespeare’s Tempest, which features a ship sinking.In an online statement, Just Stop Oil said the sign was a reference to a recent finding that annual global temperature rose above the internationally agreed 1.5C target for the first time in 2024.In recent years, Just Stop Oil has targeted a number of other events and venues including the Chelsea Flower Show, the Proms, Stonehenge and the National Gallery. Earlier this month, two women have been charged after they were accused of spray-painting over naturalist Charles Darwin’s grave inside Westminster Abbey.The Tempest, starring Sigourney Weaver, was halted on Monday when it was interrupted by a protest.Zhenhao Zou denies 35 charges, including 11 counts of rape and three counts of voyeurism.Sixteen Just Stop Oil protesters are appealing their jail sentences.Stonehenge was covered in orange paint during a Just Stop Oil protest in June, the court heard.Justine Bayley lives in a village that would be partially demolished for a third runway at Heathrow.Copyright 2025 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
