Cynthia Erivo halted her solo West End show last night after catching an audience member filming her. The three-time Oscar nominee and Tony, Emmy, and Grammy award-winner is currently starring in Dracula on the West End. Her performance – in which she plays a staggering 23 roles across a nearly two-hour show – has been hailed as ‘outstanding’ and a ‘one woman tour de force’.
Just a day after completing the London Marathon – which she finished in an impressive 3:21:40 – Cynthia returned to the stage. However, her show was nearly spoiled after someone in the audience broke the number one rule of theatre etiquette and whipped out their phone mid-performance. After noticing she was being filmed, Cynthia stopped the show about an hour in to call out the attendee.
Posting a video of the stage’s curtains drawn, TikTok user jesusontour_ shared: ‘Not Cynthia Erivo clocking someone filming in the audience during Dracula and stopping the whole show.’ He also noted that the actress had ‘stopped the show for like 10 minutes’. Others who were there also weighed in, with user Katherine explaining more about what had unfolded. ‘She straight up called the guy out! Put her hand up and said, “excuse me, are you filming right now?”, and the person said “sorry” and she said, “did you just say sorry?”. And was immediately surrounded by crew and walked off,’ she explained. The attendee was then ‘kicked out’ by security, with the show stopped for about 10 minutes after Cynthia temporarily left the stage.
After reading about what had unfolded, many people praised Cynthia’s actions and willingness to call out bad behaviour. ‘A queen of queens,’ one commented. ‘Mind you, this woman ran the London Marathon the day before in just over 3 hours and then is playing 23 different characters for the show 24 hours later. I don’t blame her for stopping it because it is that deep,’ SazzyJanizzle declared. ‘If you knew how much work she puts into each show, you’d understand why she’d want to preserve its safety,’ Navy shared. ‘Good for her! Bring back theatre etiquette,’ letswatchaplay added.
Dracula was adapted and directed by Kip Williams following his multi-award-winning version of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray starring Sarah Snook. Shows began in February and will run until May 31. The synopsis teases: ‘The play is set in a ruined castle, high in the wilderness, where a mysterious presence is lurking. Is it man or beast? Angel or demon? For centuries, Count Dracula has held his remote corner of the world in a vice grip of terror. But evil is on the move and the residents of London will soon fall under its bewitching, transformative spell.’ Cynthia not only plays the infamous Count, but other characters including vampire hunter Van Helsing, naïve solicitor Jonathan Harker and his fiancée Mina Murray, and confidante Lucy Westenra, as well as 18 other roles.
Metro’s review called it ‘without exaggeration, the most difficult thing I’ve ever seen accomplished on a stage’ and said Cynthia’s performance was ‘magnetic and meticulous’. However, it added: ‘I genuinely don’t know how Erivo will survive this run without exhausting herself physically and mentally. To call it a generous performance is an understatement: Erivo is pushing herself to the limit with this show.’ After finishing the London Marathon on Sunday, the actress – also known for her starring role as Elphaba in the Wicked films – was asked about returning to the stage so soon after the gruelling physical challenge. ‘I should be fine… I might be a little slower than usual, though,’ she joked at the finishing line.
Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar last month, Cynthia spoke about her schedule balancing a demanding show with marathon training. ‘I’ve been using the runs as a way to energise the day, so it means that my body’s warmed up and worked out. Then, by the end of the day, I have the energy to do the show,’ she explained. ‘What I’m doing on stage is really physical. I don’t really sit down. But being physical in the day helps me be physical at night. Essentially, it’s like training to be able to have the stamina to do the show.’ She then detailed her plans for taking a break after completing the London Marathon and Dracula – saying there were plans to ‘take two weeks off and maybe go to Italy’.
Metro has contacted the Noël Coward Theatre and representatives for Cynthia Erivo for comment.
