Overview
- Protesters wearing masks and hats ran onto and lay down on the Palace Theatre red carpet ahead of a gala performance, an action that took place on Thursday and was ended when theatre security removed them.
- One demonstrator wore a T-shirt reading “Rowling money kills,” and several celebrities including Vanessa Feltz, Richard Arnold, Anne Hegerty and Angellica Bell were arriving as the interruption occurred.
- The gala marked the launch of a newly reworked one-part version of Harry Potter And The Cursed Child, which protesters targeted because of the play’s ties to J.K. Rowling.
- Reports say the disruption was non-violent and no major arrests or injuries were reported, though the action reinforced tensions between trans rights activists and supporters of the franchise.
- The Palace Theatre has been a repeated focus for such actions, including chalk-message protests earlier this year, and the recent stunt could prompt tighter security at future Potter events and affect how fans attend high-profile arrivals.