Last week, theatergoers in London had a terrifying experience when the ceiling of the Apollo Theater came crashing down during the performance of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.” Right before the first intermission, audience members heard crackling noises before parts of the ceiling fell, taking out lighting pictures and part of the balcony. At least 81 people were injured, seven critically, leaving some trapped under the rubble. Fortunately everyone made it out of dust and debris.
The cause of the accident is still being determined by police and firefighters, but some are citing the heavy rain fall the day prior contributing to the collapse. It has happened in many cases where the buildup of water over time will rot out these older structures and eventually it will cave in. Think of it like when there’s a leak from the ceiling if you flood the tub in your bathroom. Many of the London theaters are also tightly packed seats and steep rows, Apollo being cited as one of the steepest. Employees of the theater warn patrons that some of the upper levels are not for those who fear heights.
The Apollo Theater was built during the Edwardian period in London, around 1901. That makes this theater over a century old. The same goes for a majority of the other theaters in the West End and on Broadway. Some theaters have been renovated, like the New Amsterdam Theater as the Disney Corporation made way for The Lion King, but it makes you question if more theaters should follow suit. Though the historical accuracy of these landmarks is extremely important, many of these theaters cannot seem to hold the stress of the mass quantities of people and advanced weighty technologies during the modern day performance.
Would sacrificing the authenticity of these theaters in the West End be worth the safety of theatergoers? After the accident that happened last week, I don’t think theater owners should be taking any more chances.
So what do you think? Should theaters be re-evaluated for safety and owners have these older theaters renovated?
Photo via American Blues Scene
The post Apollo Theater Collapse – Are Historic Theaters Safe? appeared first on Camp Broadway.
