News
Police investigate after fight breaks out during Hamilton performance in Manchester
Injuries were "sustained" but no arrests have been made at this time.
Emily Sergeant -
27th November 2023 
A police investigation has been launched after a fight broke out between theatergoers during a performance of Hamilton in Manchester.
Reports in several major outlets, including the BBC, the Guardian, and The Times, have indicated that officers were called out to an altercation between two audience members at a performance of the award-winning US musical that’s currently on tour at the Palace Theatre Manchester last Friday night (24 November).
A man and a woman in the audience were believed to have been involved in the fight – with a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) spokesperson confirming police attended to a “report of an assault”.
Injuries were “sustained”, but no arrests have been made at this time, GMP has confirmed.
The statement provided by the GMP spokesperson reads in full: “Officers were called to Oxford Street in the city centre at about 10.30pm on Friday 24 November 2023 to a report of an assault. An investigation is ongoing at this time with no arrests made [and] thankfully, injuries sustained are not believed to be life-threatening.”
According to the Guardian, one report of the incident shared online said staff at the theatre were “desperately trying to keep [the two theatregoers] apart”, while other audience members made sure to commend the cast on stage for “not letting it distract them”.
This incident is just days after the hit musical opened to rave reviews here in Manchester.
Many may also remember this comes merely months after a video showing two audience members being removed by security from a performance of The Bodyguard musical, also at the Palace Theatre Manchester, went viral online.
This subsequently prompted a wider discussion on theatre etiquette, and how audience members should act inside the theatre.
Read more:
- Hamilton at the Palace Theatre Manchester – a revolutionary musical that will stay with you for a lifetime
- Longsight motorbike thief jailed after telling police to ‘catch me if you can’
- ‘Rowdy’ audience members removed from musical in Manchester prompt theatre etiquette discussion
Hamilton is currently on stage at the Palace Theatre Manchester until 24 November 2024, with limited tickets still available.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
