Five people were taken into custody by police this week, following a disruption caused by Just Stop Oil activists during a performance of Les Miserables in London’s West End. A video circulated by the group displayed their members taking over the stage and urging the audience to “join the rebellion.”
According to the Metropolitan Police, officers were summoned to Shaftesbury Avenue’s theatre in response to a protest around 9PM on Wednesday the 3rd October.
Just Stop Oil, an environmental activist organisation, is known for orchestrating protests during public events, most recently at Wimbledon tennis matches. The demonstrators emerged from both ends of the stage during a rendition of the song “Do You Hear The People Sing?”
Audience reaction
In the shared video, attendees can be heard expressing disapproval and demanding that the activists cease their protest and “get off the stage”. The protesters displayed orange banners featuring the group’s logo, and following their attempts to continue, the cast of the show was escorted offstage.
Just Stop Oil stated that the performance was halted, and the theatre was evacuated by 9:10 PM.
“Do You Hear The People Sing?” is often characterised as a call to action for revolution. The song has been utilised by real-life protest movements worldwide, including the 2019 Hong Kong demonstrations. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Just Stop Oil claimed that four individuals had “locked” themselves to the stage at the Sondheim Theatre.
“Valjean steals bread to feed a starving child. How long before we are all forced to steal?” they added. Jean Valjean is the central character in Les Miserables. The post continued, “The fossil fuel show can’t go on.”
Who is Just Stop Oil, and what are its objectives?
William Village, the CEO of Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, which owns the Sondheim Theatre, stated that “safety protocols” had to be followed, and “the audience were asked to leave the auditorium, and the Met Police attended.”
“Unfortunately, there was insufficient time to complete the remainder of the performance,” he said in a statement.
“While we acknowledge the importance of free expression, we must also respect our audience’s right to enjoy the event for which they have paid.”
In another video, a Just Stop Oil member named Hanan explained the rationale behind their decision to target the production.
“Les Mis is about the June Rebellion, where ordinary people stood up, organised themselves against a government that consistently showed no interest in their wellbeing,” said the 22-year-old student.
She went on to criticise Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for approving “hundreds of gas and oil licenses, knowing the full consequences this will have on our climate and our society.”
On its website, Just Stop Oil states its ultimate goal is to “demand that the UK government stop licensing all new oil, gas, and coal projects.”
