Keep quiet row leads to punch up at theatre

A BRAWL broke out between two women at a theatre during a performance of the musical Chicago.

One woman asked the other to be quiet during a courtroom scene involving the character Roxie Hart.

But the chatterbox took umbrage - and soon the pair were scrapping in the aisle of the Sunderland Empire.

Police were called and five people were dragged out of the theatre – where Carry On star Sid James famously died on stage in 1976.

General manager Ben Phillips, said: “We had to remove five people – a lady and her partner and a lady, her daughter and another guest.

“The matter wasn’t drink-related. It appears the couple were asking the group of three to be quiet as they had been talking throughout the show.”

He added: “I’ve never had this happen at a theatre before and you don’t expect it at a musical like Chicago. However, our door staff have the same training as bouncers.”

Saturday night’s show, starring former Eastenders actor Stefan Booth and ex- Corrie star Tupele Dorgu, was the final show in the run.