Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Hypocrite: Just Stop Oil eco-clown who invaded Les Miserables to the fury of £175-a-ticket audience once starred in a musical himself
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The eco-spoilsport who helped shut down Les Misérables is a hypocrite ‘theatre lover’ who starred in his high school’s production of a West End smash himself.
MailOnline has unearthed footage of Noah Crane struggling through One More Angel in Heaven during the production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at his Norfolk comprehensive less than two years ago.
Crane, who is now on his gap year working for Just Stop Oil as a ‘recruiter’, was playing Joseph’s father Jacob, and warbled through his song in the show in December 2021. He came back to perform at Aylsham High School because the production was delayed due to Covid.
But the teenager thought nothing of being one of five eco-killjoys who stopped Les Mis at the Sondheim Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue on Wednesday night, ruining it for an audience who had paid up to £175 for a seat and travelled from across the UK and abroad to be there. One elderly couple said their 80th birthday celebration was wrecked and they may never return to the West End again.
Describing himself as a ‘theatre lover’, Crane said he ‘took action because he knows there’s no future for the arts if society fails under the pressures of climate collapse.’
The activists calmly climbed on to stage from the most expensive seats in the house and unfurled their banners, screaming ‘join the rebellion’. An American theatregoer yelled: ‘F*** you’ as one of the eco-killjoys gave a monologue about ‘society collapsing’.
Noah Crane, who shut down Les Misérables, on stage in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Just Stop Oil protester Noah Crane was on stage
Noah, pictured on a previous march and right on Facebook, is working for JSO on his gap year
Crane returned to his school to perform after covid disrupted his final year
Security were forced to close the stage, brought down the curtain and had to evacuate the building as the police and arrested the five JSO activists. They were all charged last night.
Husband and wife Tricia and John Jeanes, 80, were enjoying the theatre when their evening was ‘ruined’ by the eco-fanatics. They were there to celebrate their 80th birthdays and the wrecked trip cost in excess of £600.
Tricia told MailOnline: ‘We have been married 62 years and this episode has put us off coming into London to see the shows which we have always enjoyed in the past.
WATCH: Just Stop Oil spokeswoman cries on TV after eco clowns disrupted Les Miserables
‘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.’
She added: ‘No one knew at first if it could have been a 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.’
MailOnline revealed earlier today that Noah, who has just finished his studies at the Catholic Notre Dame Sixth Form in Norwich, was one of the mob.
He is using his gap year to work as a JSO recruiter and has been vocal in defending the group’s activities and the way they disrupt the lives of the British public. Most recently he was arrested at King Charles’ Coronation in London as the Met broke up a potential protest.
On Wednesday evening he was joined on stage by 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.
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 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’.
The audience have been told they can have a refund by the Sondheim Theatre, but with some buying expensive tickets via third parties it might be trickier for some to get their cash back.
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
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
Hanan is seen here on the left of the picture on the edge of the stage
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
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
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’
This evening, officers from Scotland Yard were called to the Sondheim Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue and said they are currently ‘dealing’. Pictured: JSO protesters interrupting the performance this evening
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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