‘She should have been in the performance!’ Critics mock Just Stop Oil spokeswoman when she breaks down on TV after eco clowns disrupted Les Miserables – ruining couple’s 80th birthday treat in the process
- Eco-fanatic mocked after breaking down on TV following Just Stop Oil stunt
Critics have mocked a Just Stop Oil spokeswoman after she broke down on TV after eco-killjoys disrupted a performance of Les Miserables last night during its most iconic song.
Five eco warriors stormed the stage of the Sondheim Theatre on Wednesday to protest about climate change – ‘ruining’ an 80th birthday treat in the process. Police confirmed five Just Stop Oil (JSO) activists were arrested.
During an interview with Sky News today, JSO’s Zoe Cohen made crying noises as she appeared to break down – but members of the public poked fun at her, saying she ‘deserves an Oscar’.
X user Jack David said: ‘I hope Zoe Cohen has asked Santa for acting lessons this Christmas.’
Fellow X user J McClements said: ‘I’d be more inclined to believe her if she was genuine.’
Sacré bleu! The Just Stop Oil spokeswoman became emotional after eco-killjoys ruined a performance of French musical Les Mis
During an interview with Sky News today, JSO’s Zoe Cohen made crying noises as she appeared to break down – but members of the public poked fun at her performance that ‘deserves an Oscar’
Eco fanatic Cohen told Sky News: ‘How worse does it have to get? How many kids have to die?’
Comedian Daniel O’Reilly added: ‘Call me old fashioned but water used to come out your eyes when you cried.’
MailOnline can also reveal the eco stunt at Les Mis – tickets for which can cost £200 – ‘ruined’ an 80th birthday treat.
Husband and wife Tricia and John Jeanes, 80, were enjoying the theatre when their evening was ‘ruined’ by the eco fanatics.
Tricia told MailOnline: ‘These people are antagonizing the public. This is no way to get their support.
‘The protesters should be made to reimburse the out of pocket expenses, as many would have had to stay in hotels in London – ourselves included.
‘We were very angry as there were many people there who may never be able to see the show again.
‘Also sad for the performers who were ushered off stage.
The group said in a statement that four people were ‘locked to the stage of the French-revolution-themed show’
Five demonstrators are pictured on stage during the performance this evening. Police have confirmed that five JSO activists have been arrested in connection to the incident
MailOnline can also reveal the eco stunt at Les Mis – tickets for which can cost £200 – ‘ruined’ an 80th birthday treat
‘No one knew at first if it could have been terrorist attack. We were firstly asked to go into the bars where it was very hot and crowded and we were there for some time.
‘I have only admiration for the way the theatre dealt with the incident considering they were not allowed to physically remove the protesters.’
Cohen told Sky News: ‘How worse does it have to get? How many kids have to die?’
She added: ‘It’s insane to think that a theatre performance is more important than food on the table.’
Earlier today, MailOnline unmasked the eco-nuts who shut down Les Mis.
They include a student working for Just Stop Oil as a gap year job and several other repeat offenders.
A young café worker from an affluent market town, a graduate who threw paint all over the Scottish Parliament and a new recruit also stormed the West End stage last night.
Critics mocked the Just Stop Oil spokeswoman after she broke down on TV after eco-killjoys disrupted a performance of Les Miserables last night during its most iconic song
There was outrage in the audience who had paid up to £175 for a seat and travelled from across the UK and abroad to be at the Sondheim Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue. Tory Dame Andrea Jenkyns tweeted today: ‘Lock them up’, as MailOnline can reveal that several have been arrested before.
The audience have been told they can have a refund, but with some buying expensive tickets via third parties it might be trickier for some to get their cash back.
The audience was rapt as the stars of the show belted out Do You Hear the People Sing but in an incident that raises serious questions about security, the activists calmly climbed on to stage from the most expensive seats in the house and unfurled their banners, screaming ‘join the rebellion’. Security closed the stage, brought down the curtain and had to evacuate the building as the police arrived.
Theatregoers drowned out the JSO chanting with booing and cries of ‘you disgust me’. Another angry punter shouted: ‘Get off you stupid people. How dare you.’ A third screamed repeatedly: ‘You naughty people, you naughty people.’ An American yelled: ‘F*** you’ as one of the eco-spoilsports gave a monologue about ‘society collapsing’.
MailOnline can reveal that on stage was Noah Crane, who has just finished his studies at the Catholic Notre Dame Sixth Form in Norwich and is using his gap year to work as a JSO recruiter. Describing himself as a ‘theatre lover’, he said he ‘took action because he knows there’s no future for the arts if society fails under the pressures of climate collapse.’ He was arrested at King Charles’ Coronation in London as the Met broke up a potential protest.
Just Stop Oil protester Noah Crane was on stage last night
Noah, pictured on a previous march, is working for JSO on his gap year
The crowd booed and jeered as Noah and cafe worker Poppy Bliss clambered onto the stage holding the group’s orange banner at the Sondheim Theatre in Shaftesbury
Miss Bliss, from Suffolk, was arrested over the summer at a previous protest (pictured)
Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns is among those who is calling for them to be jailed
With him was Hannah Taylor, 23, was one of protesters. The maths graduate was up in court in Scotland recently after the Scottish Parliament was doused in paint.
She said: ‘The show starts with Jean Valjean stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister’s starving child. How long before we are all forced to steal loaves of bread?
She added: ‘How long before there are riots on the streets? The show cannot go on. We are facing catastrophe. New oil and gas means crop failure, starvation and death. It is an act of war on the global south and an utter betrayal of young people’.
Cafe worker Poppy Bliss, from well-heeled Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk was also on stage.
In June she was among a number of people arrested in London as they took part in a Just Stop Oil march demanding the Government stops issuing new fossil fuel licences.
And the fourth person was a JSO newbie called Hanan.
The eco-warrior said: ‘I’m taking action with Just Stop Oil by disrupting a Les Mis performance tonight.
Just Stop Oil member Hannah Taylor (pictured) urged people watching the West End show to ‘join the rebellion’ – but did not win over the crowd
Hannah was involved in an attack on the Scottish Parliament (pictured)
JSO new girl Hanan said she stopped the show because of the Government’s new oil and gas licences
Video shows the theatre crowd booing as eco-activists clambered onto the stage holding the group’s orange banner
‘Les Mis is about the June rebellion where ordinary people stood up, organised themselves against a government that consistently showed no interest in their wellbeing.
‘The UK Government has approved hundreds of gas and oil licences knowing the full consequences this will have on our climate and our society.
‘So why wait? Take action.’
The Metropolitan Police arrested people following the disruption at the musical, which depicts a failed republican rebellion against the French state.
As others booed and jeered the eco protesters, a man near the front snatched away one of the eco-protesters’ banners.
Theatregoers expressed anger at the protest, and told MailOnline that they all cheered when the police arrived.
One told MailOnline: ‘It was a show that everybody was very excited about, you could feel that before it started. There were tourists from all over the world and people from all over the UK.
‘The audience was very angry when the protest started. There wasn’t an ounce of sympathy for them and people were booing and jeering them. These protestors didn’t achieve anything, they just annoyed a lot of people who were looking forward to a special night out.’
Another theatre goer revealed that after being ushered out of the venue they waited outside.
He added: ‘There were a lot of angry people waiting around outside the theatre because we wern’t sure what was going on. When the police arrived, everybody started cheering them.
‘These protestors knew exactly what they were doing. They were sitting in expensive seats near the front row and the whole protest was very well organised. It happened just before the interval during a very important moment in the musical.
‘I’d like to know how they could afford such costly seats because I couldn’t and was sat right at the back of the theatre.’
Just Stop Oil said that four protesters locked themselves to the ‘stage of the French-revolution-themed show’ using flexible bicycle locks at around 8.50pm.
In video of the incident, audience members can be heard booing the demonstrators.
The climate change group said that the performance was stopped and the theatre was evacuated by 9.10pm.
Police have since confirmed that five people were arrested at the theatre. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Met said: ‘At about 9pm tonight, police were called to a protest inside a theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, WC1.
‘Local officers were quickly on scene and five people have been arrested.’
Social media users were quick to point out that JSO was incorrect is saying the play was set during the French revolution. Others slammed the eco mob for their actions.
One X user said: ‘This is just embarrassing. Get a life.’
Another added: ‘Imagine being this entitled. Just stop oil think their opinions justify ruining everyone else’s morning, day and evening. Incredibly selfish and unhelpful, damaging their own cause.’
Just Stop Oil said that four protesters locked themselves to the stage to the stage of the French-revolution-themed show’ using flexible bicycle locks at around 8.50pm. Pictured is a JSO demonstrator during the disruption
This photo shows an apparently angry audience member pointing and scolding the protesters
William Village, chief executive of Delfont Mackintosh Theatres – which owns the Sondheim, issued a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, following the incident
Just Stop Oil said two of the protesters were called Hanan – a 22-year-old student – and Noah, 18.
The group said: ‘Hanan, a student, took action because the UK Government, by approving new oil and gas has shown total disregard for their wellbeing.
The republican June Rebellion of 1832 inspired Victor Hugo’s novel Les Misérables, which was published in 1862.
The rebellion failed and didn’t last for long because it lacked support from the public.
Just Stop Oil member Hannah Taylor said: ‘The show starts with Jean Valjean stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister’s starving child. How long before we are all forced to steal loaves of bread? How long before there are riots on the streets? The show cannot go on.
‘We are facing catastrophe. New oil and gas means crop failure, starvation and death. It is an act of war on the global south and an utter betrayal of young people.’
In another video posted online eco-warrior Hanan said: ‘I’m taking action with Just Stop Oil by disrupting a Les Mis performance tonight’
She added: ‘Les Mis is about the June rebellion where ordinary people stood up, organised themselves against a government that consistently showed no interest in their wellbeing’
William Village, chief executive of Delfont Mackintosh Theatres – which owns the Sondheim, said there will be refunds for all ticket-holders.
He added: ‘During the first half of our performance of Les Miserables, individuals from Just Stop Oil invaded the stage, abruptly stopping the show.
‘Following our safety protocols, the audience were asked to leave the auditorium and the Met Police attended.
‘Regrettably, there was insufficient time to enable us to complete the rest of the performance.
‘Whilst we recognise the importance of free expression, we must also respect our audience’s right to enjoy the event for which they have paid.’
Just Stop Oil told MailOnline: ‘This summer has shown us the sheer power of a supercharged climate.
‘Scientists are freaking out and even the Pope is sounding the alarm. But, like the citizens of Paris in 1832, we have locked our doors, while our young face slaughter on the streets. ‘They will inherit a scorched earth, unfit to live in and we will be long gone. We cannot let this stand. The show cannot go on.’
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