A performance of hit musical The Bodyguard had to be stopped early after riot police ended up being called to the theatre to deal with the "disgusting behaviour" of audience members.
The show, starring Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton and former Hollyoaks star Ayden Callaghan, previously played at the Sunderland Empire in February and is set to stop at Newcastle's Theatre Royal this August as part of its UK tour. The trouble broke out during a performance at the Palace Theatre in Manchester on Friday night, the Manchester Evening News reports.
The incident was caused by audience members repeatedly singing over the top of performers, despite signs installed around the auditorium asking people not to sing along during the show. The musical features a string of classic hits from the legendary Whitney Houston, from the iconic I Will Always love You to I Wanna Dance With Somebody, I Have Nothing, and Saving All My Love.
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The show had to be paused briefly during its first act to evict a handful of people after they would not refrain from singing, but unfortunately the problem persisted later on in the evening. The musical ended up being brought to a halt 10 minutes before the finale, with the audience instructed to leave the theatre after the curtain came down during Melody Thornton's performance of I Will Always Love You.
Footage showed a number of 'riot vans' parked outside the theatre, with at least half a dozen police officers in attendance as "mini riots" and "fights" broke out in the audience according to people who were there on the evening. One woman who was in the audience said: "There was a lot of heckling at Melody Thornton who was on the stage solo at this point.
"Her mic was cut and the curtain was brought down for the second time. A fight broke out in the upper stands as security tried to deal with members of the audience. It was about ten mins to the end after an earlier stoppage in the show as others were removed."
Other audience members expressed their anger at the turn of events, with one person saying on Twitter: "At the Palace tonight and they had to stop the show during the first act to eject disruptive audience members. They've had to stop the show AGAIN during the finale because of people shouting out, screaming and being incredibly disruptive.
"Just unbelievably disrespectful to the actors. And they're refusing to leave. This is horrendous. Never seen anything like it," they added. "They decided not to finish the performance because of the disruption.
"Feel so sorry for the whole cast. Respect to all the staff at the Manchester Palace for trying to deal with an incredibly difficult situation. Three police vehicles outside the theatre. Awful."
Another person in attendance tweeted: "Just been to watch The Bodyguard at the Palace and a mini riot erupted during the big ending, show cancelled, people being physically removed and fights in the aisles. All because you can’t sing along!!!!! Police at the scene!!! Utter madness."
And star Ayden Callaghan, who plays bodyguard Frank Farmer in the musical, later took to social media to hit out at the people who had "ruined" the show. Ayden wrote on Twitter: "Theatre pulled the show at the end tonight because of disgusting behaviour.
"We wanted to carry on but it had become a major incident," he explained. "I'm really sorry to what was 99.9% a brilliant audience that a few badly behaved individuals ruined it."
Speaking of the decision to ask audience members not to sing along, he said: "It’s not karaoke, we want people to enjoy themselves, and enjoy the performances they have paid to see. You don't expect to go and have a kick about at Anfield when watching or a few rallies at Wimbledon as well as spectating. Respect the performers and fellow audience. Simple."
The Manchester Evening News has approached the Palace Theatre for comment.
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