A West End theatre pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety laws on 8 October after a stage manager fell three metres through an unprotected opening above the stage and suffered serious spinal injuries.
The 36-year-old from Australia was left a paraplegic and will not be able to return to her chosen career because of the severity of her injuries.
Westminster City Council prosecuted Soho Theatre Company Ltd at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this week after its investigation identified serious safety failings at the theatre.
The court heard that the injured woman was a contractor working for a production company, ‘Headlong Theatre Limited’, who were engaged by Soho Theatre Company Ltd to run a show known as “Boys”.
On 9 June 2012, the stage manager was preparing the stage for the evening show. To do this, she needed the stage lights to be put on and it was while she was trying to locate the light switches that she fell through an unguarded opening landing onto the stage below.
This opening was a modified and insecure ‘Juliet’ door, used classically to access the balcony in the Shakespearian production. In this case, it was readily accessible via an unlocked door located on the main staff staircase.
The stage manager spent six months in hospital as a result of her injuries and is now unable to walk or lead a normal life.
Soho Theatre Company Ltd, of 21 Dean Street, London pleaded guilty to breaching section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 for failing to protect the safety of visiting production staff.
They also pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (as amended) for failing to identify and manage the risk to which such persons were exposed.
The case has been referred to Southwark Crown Court for sentencing at a later date.
“This young woman, with so much to look forward to, suffered life changing injuries as a result of someone else’s negligence,” said Councillor Nickie Aiken, Westminster City Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Protection.
“What’s more, it could have so easily have been avoided with a simple warning sign and decent door lock… Westminster City Council expects everyone with safety responsibilities to reflect on this, the potential result of not taking those responsibilities seriously.”
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