Just Stop Oil charged for disrupting West End show starring Sigourney Weaver

Just Stop Oil activists have been charged after a West End production of The Tempest starring Sigourney Weaver was disrupted earlier this week.

The Alien and Ghostbusters actor was sat on stage at the Theatre Royal, on Drury Lane, as her co-star crawled from a hole, only to be greeted by the sight of two protesters around 8pm on Tuesday.

Hayley Walsh, 42, and Richard Weir, 60, had walked on stage, launched a confetti cannon and unveiled an orange banner saying ‘over 1.5 degrees is a global shipwreck’.

A voice could be heard saying ‘we’ll have to stop the show ladies and gentleman, sorry’.

Now mechanical engineer Walsh, of Hotspur Street, Tynemouth, and Weir, a lecturer from Grantham Road, Radcliffe on Trent, have been charged with aggravated trespass.

Footage of the incident showed them appear from side stage as Weaver delivered the line ‘Come forth’.

Their banner referenced a recent announcement that last year – the warmest on record globally – was the first full year when the average temperature exceeded 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

Experts have warned this could lead to more extreme weather events including heatwaves and droughts.

Members of the audience were divided – some booed and some cheered – while both the protesters were escorted off.

They are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, February 25.

Two other people appeared in court today accused of damaging Stonehenge by throwing orange paint on it as part of a Just Stop Oil protest on June 19.

Rajan Naidu, 74, and Niamh Lynch, 22, denied the charges of damaging an ancient protected monument and causing a public nuisance.

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