Roof Collapse at Apollo Theatre, London

[clapham_gull]

I was wondering whether it was caused by a leak in roof. Not much rain but thunder lightening and a flash hail storm.

I'm struggling to remember being outside in hail like that, I've probably been lucky. I was 5 mins from home but nearly got blown over. Luckily I was outside my local. There were a few of us in there having an unplanned pint.

 

[teaboy]

It's opposite a Fire Station!

Yes, but Clerkenwell would've got there before the Soho crews!

 

[rouseytastic]

I've been working in there recently (up to a week ago) building new offices above the sushi place. I said from day one the building was a nightmare. Sadly I've been proved right!

 

[teaboy]

NIMAX (the owners) don't have a great reputation in the West End for the quality of their buildings. I have a feeling that everyone will be getting builders in in the new year...

 

[Norman Baker suck my lozenge]

Probably poyets head going through the ceiling.

 

[Nibble]

Must be a very slow news day as all channels seem to be broadcasting a 24hr rolling report of this quite trivial occurance. A bit of ceiling came down in an old building. Feel bad for anyone who got hurt but let's get it in perspective. News crews camped out by the theatre, asking every od bod in London about it.

Weirdest comment I heard was "The scene was set at the seaside so we just thought it was part of the show" huh? How?

Boring story.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Must be a very slow news day as all channels seem to be broadcasting a 24hr rolling report of this quite trivial occurance. A bit of ceiling came down in an old building. Feel bad for anyone who got hurt but let's get it in perspective. News crews camped out by the theatre, asking every od bod in London about it.

.

Like everything, its only trivial if you are not directly affected.

My 15 year old was up in London yesterday with his school to see the Woman in Black (at the Fortune Theatre).

In the 3 minutes gap between hearing on the radio, "Reports coming in that the roof has collapsed at a London Theatre. Muitiple casualties reported" and the bit where they actually named the theatre as the Apollo, the story didn't seem trivial, that's for sure.

 

[Nibble]

Like everything, its only trivial if you are not directly affected.

My 15 year old was up in London yesterday with his school to see the Woman in Black (at the Fortune Theatre).

In the 3 minutes gap between hearing on the radio, "Reports coming in that the roof has collapsed at a London Theatre. Muitiple casualties reported" and the bit where they actually named the theatre as the Apollo, the story didn't seem trivial, that's for sure.

Well yes, I can understand that but in the big scheme of things it doesn't warrant this much of an over-reaction. It is an understandable over-reaction but it is an over-reaction.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Well yes, I can understand that but in the big scheme of things it doesn't warrant this much of an over-reaction. It is an understandable over-reaction but it is an over-reaction.

Probably, yes.

 

[Nibble]

I'm off to see a friend in Warhorse in the NY. I'm going to wear my Evel Knieval SuperCharge bike helmet I'm hoping santa brings me. JIC.

 

[Nibble]

I have been enjoying some of the audience's comments though. ANother good 'un...

"It was a particularly tense flashback scene, we thought they were doing it to raise the tension in the audience" ?


You thought they were lobbing 2m x 2m chunks of plaster from a height at the heads of the audience on purpose?

 

[teaboy]

Theatre audiences are a bit odd though. In the summer we had a fire alarm go off mid-performance - flashing lights and audible evacuation announcements in the auditorium, fire brigade arriving with bells and whistles, the works. Nobody moved, and afterwards the only comments were along the lines of "oh! I thought it was part of the show."

 

[East Preston Gull]

As a ornate plaster moulding specialist, if one of those ornate plaster dome drops it would be horrendous. Amazed no one was killed.A lot of those theatres have a levy on tickets to cover restoration, where this money actually goes is a mystery. I should imagine all the theatres will be checking their ceiling work(inserts Google style inappropriate advertising)

 

[symyjym]

Was Gus there last night

 

[cloud]

There but for the grace of God - my mum was due to take my lad there for his Christmas present

 

[West Hoathly Seagull]

Theatre audiences are a bit odd though. In the summer we had a fire alarm go off mid-performance - flashing lights and audible evacuation announcements in the auditorium, fire brigade arriving with bells and whistles, the works. Nobody moved, and afterwards the only comments were along the lines of "oh! I thought it was part of the show."

In which case, they should make more frequent safety announcements, along the line of "if the fire alarm goes off, it is for real". This is standard practice at conferences and training days. If you are talking about the Theatre Royal, in the many times I've been there, I've never heard such an announcement. Fortunately I know where all the public fire exits are. I know this sounds dramatic, but fire safety is part of my work.

As for last night's incident, I'm just glad it wasn't worse and wish those hurt a quick recovery. Working very near to Theatreland, and frequently cutting through there to Waterloo Station, it certainly brings it home.

 

[Bry Nylon]

In which case, they should make more frequent safety announcements, along the line of "if the fire alarm goes off, it is for real". This is standard practice at conferences and training days. If you are talking about the Theatre Royal, in the many times I've been there, I've never heard such an announcement. Fortunately I know where all the public fire exits are. I know this sounds dramatic, but fire safety is part of my work.

As for last night's incident, I'm just glad it wasn't worse and wish those hurt a quick recovery. Working very near to Theatreland, and frequently cutting through there to Waterloo Station, it certainly brings it home.

Went to a kitchen fire in a village hall about 8pm one Thursday night, which happened to be Bingo Night. Despite the bingo caller imploring the old biddies to put down their dibbers and evacuate via the nearest exit etc, none of them would **** off. It was a surreal experience fighting a developing fire in full breathing apparatus etc whilst being watched by a bunch of muttering pensioners making critical observations and drinking tea.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

The fire alarm at work today kept testing itself all afternoon. Glad to know it works, but it didn't have to announce the fact very loudly every five minutes for FIVE hours.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Most people go to the pub to get plastered.

 

[vegster]

It's not the first time this sort of thing has happened, I was at a theatre on the South Bank in the summer and it had happened there at some time but they hadn't bothered to replace the roof. It was the one by Southwark Bridge.