Robert Glenister freezes on West End stage, two weeks after collapsing during performance
A WEST END production was halted last night after one of its leading actors was said to have “lost it emotionally” on stage.
Robert Glenister, best known for his starring roles in BBC drama series Spooks and Hustle, was said to have “frozen up” during an evening performance of Glengarry Glen Ross at the Playhouse Theatre.
It comes two weeks after the theatre was forced to cancel a showing of David Mamet’s crime drama, when Glenister collapsed on stage in front of hundreds of spectators. Speaking after the incident, one audience member said that Glenister had stopped mid-performance, before shouting “Oh God!” and falling to the floor clutching his chest.
“We thought it was part of the show at first. He was getting into it, shouting about how much he wanted sales when suddenly he stopped talking and just fell forward,” they added.
Last night, members of the audience tweeted their concern for the actor, who stage managers later confirmed was “feeling better”.
One theatre-goer wrote: “Never had this happen before. Robert Glenister just froze up on stage. Looks like he lost it emotionally. Curtain down. Waiting to see what happens.”
Following an hour’s postponement, managers last night confirmed that the show would be resuming, with understudy Mark Carlisle taking over.