The new star of the West End play 2:22: A Ghost Story has condemned an attempt to take illicit photographs of actors in their dressing room.
The thriller, which has been staged at several London theatres over the last two years, had its first preview at the Apollo on Sunday night with a new cast led by American actor Sophia Bush (from the TV series One Tree Hill).
On social media, Bush said that during the afternoon of that performance: “A man stuck a camera in the window of our ladies’ dressing room.” Later, the same individual “shoved his camera through our curtains” before a member of the production was able to intervene and the intruder fled.
Bush said that the incident “colours a beautiful night with something ugly and scary and sad”. She continued: “Thanks to everyone who showed up with love. To the predatory guy? Fuck you very much. I hope someone there for our opening might be able to help us figure out who you are … you deserve to be caught.”
A statement from the show’s producers expressed anger that “a member of the public tried to take photos of cast members in a private space” before the 6pm performance. The new cast for Danny Robins’s popular play includes Ricky Champ, Clifford Samuel and Jaime Winstone. Its previous casts have included Lily Allen and Cheryl.
The production company Runaway Entertainment is now working with the Apollo to put increased security measures in place. “It is sad that the actions of one unscrupulous person may have an impact on how our cast feels able to engage with audiences at the theatre,” it said, adding that it welcomes “everyone who comes to see the show as respectful, enthusiastic audience members”. A representative for the production said there was “no real evidence” that the photographer was from the paparazzi.
The inappropriate use of mobile phones in theatres was one of the many examples of antisocial behaviour given in a recent survey of more than 1,500 people working in UK theatrical venues. Ninety per cent of respondents to the survey by the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre union (Bectu) reported that they had directly experienced or witnessed poor audience behaviour. Nearly half said they had thought about leaving the industry as a result. Bectu has called for venues across the UK to sign up to a new charter to help protect workers.
In March, naked photos were taken of the actor James Norton on stage in A Little Life and published on MailOnline, prompting widespread outrage. That production, currently in the West End, is one of several to provide theatregoers with stickers to cover their cameraphones. Dr Kirsty Sedgman, a scholar specialising in audience research, recently told the Guardian that such incidents could lead to audiences being asked to lock up their phones during performances.
