Daily Mail

Opera actor sues after falling off stage in play fight

- By Christian Gysin

THE Royal College of Music is locked in a £ 125,000 court battle after an opera actor fell during rehearsals for a fight scene.

Arthur Cahill, 40, says the incident left him with crippling injuries and chronic pain, and is suing for £25,000 in damages.

The legal bills are likely to reach £ 100,000 – which the defendants were told they must pay even if Mr Cahill loses.

The amateur thespian was rehearsing a prison escape scene for the Armenian opera David Bek when he toppled backwards from a 4ft-high platform and landed on lighting gear, hurting his spine.

A pre-trial hearing was told that the production was taking place at the Britten Theatre in Kensington, west London, close to the Royal Albert Hall.

Mr Cahill told the Central London County Court he has been left with ‘chronic pain’ and numb hands, and has also been having therapy due to the ‘trauma’ of the accident.

The charity worker, of St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, is now suing the RCM, the stage manager and one of the trustees of the opera company which staged the performanc­e in December 2015. The defendants all deny liability for the fall and dispute the extent of the injuries Mr Cahill suffered.

The actor said he had been taking part in a dress rehearsal for the show, which was being staged by the London Armenian Opera. It portrays events in the early 18th century surroundin­g military commander David Bek, a leading figure in the Armenian liberation movement.

Mr Cahill said he was injured as he took part in a staged fight on a raised platform, falling backwards and landing ‘ awkwardly’ on his back after crashing through a projection screen. Another actor also fell but landed on his feet.

Mr Cahill claimed health and safety regulation­s were breached because there were ‘no rails or safety barrier installed’ along the edge of the platform. He also claims the RCM ‘failed to carry out a risk assessment for a stage fight on the platform’.

Defending the claim, the RCM’s lawyers say the London Armenian Opera was responsibl­e for health and safety during rehearsals and performanc­es, as per the terms and conditions of hiring the theatre. They added: ‘The London Armenian Opera is required to ensure that the set is suitable and safe.’

As well as denying liability, lawyers for the defendants are disputing the impact of the accident on Mr Cahill, stressing that the complainan­t has had back problems since childhood.

Judge Wendy Backhouse said: ‘The task for the court will be to assess what injuries arose as a result of the accident and what of his ongoing symptoms is attributab­le to it. That is, of course, if he succeeds in establishi­ng liability.’ She added: ‘There is no hope of the defendants recovering their costs. It’s going to go up to £100,000.’

The case will now be set for a civil trial at a later date.

 ??  ?? Damages claim: Arthur Cahill
Damages claim: Arthur Cahill

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom