New London play is halted when audience feel faint during abortion scene and one theatregoer yells at cast that it was a 'disgrace' they had not been warned

A new play in London was halted after audience members felt faint during an abortion scene.

The Years at the award-winning Almeida Theatre tracks women's rights from the 1940s to 2000 and halfway through the two-hour performance, one character has a self-conducted abortion at home.

At the preview on Monday night, the graphic scene caused some theatregoers - reportedly mostly men - to feel queasy, and the play had to be stopped after a man sat in the stalls gestured to staff for help and was taken to the bar area.

He was joined by others from the crowd who said they also felt faint after watching the scene.

Despite the theatre in Islington, north London, having sent an email to ticket-holders warning them there would be 'graphic depictions of abortion', one audience member is said to have shouted from the circle it was a 'disgrace' they had not been warned.

But another audience member wrote on X afterwards: 'Interesting the play was stopped mid-illegal abortion scene this evening due to audience members fainting, and it was a man who took the opportunity to berate the cast and crew. Interesting indeed.'

A spokesman from the Almeida theatre told the Mail: 'The performance on Monday of The Years was stopped for 10 minutes so that our Front of House team could provide care for an audience member who required assistance.

'During the stoppage, care was also provided for three other audience members.

'All audience members were quick to recover after brief assistance. We will continue to warn audiences of the content in the production on the Almeida website, on the booking page, in pre-visit emails, and on Front of House signage in the theatre.'

The issue of theatres publicising content warnings for plays has become a contentious subject in the industry with the likes of Ian McKellen branding it 'ludicrous' and Ralph Fiennes saying 'trigger warnings are for softies'.

Dame Judi Dench has said: 'If you're that sensitive, don't go to the theatre because you could be very shocked. Where is the surprise of seeing and understanding it in your own way.'