Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 11
Mean Girls Producers Cancel Belfast Run Through June 20 as Disorder Sparks Safety Fears
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 11

Mean Girls Producers Cancel Belfast Run Through June 20 as Disorder Sparks Safety Fears

3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 11

Summary

  • Producers scrapped the entire remaining Belfast run of Mean Girls, ending performances scheduled through June 20 at the Grand Opera House after earlier cancelling Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday matinee shows.
  • Safety concerns drove the decision as unrest spread across Northern Ireland after a man was seriously injured in a knife attack and planned protests raised risks for cast, staff and audiences.
  • Vivian Panka, the first Black actress to play Regina George on the UK tour, said she had not left her house, kept her blinds closed and feared being targeted as a person of colour.
  • The Grand Opera House said ticket holders will be emailed in coming days about refunds, while the cancellation underscores how the Belfast disorder has spilled into major cultural events.

Insights

When online hate forces a stage to go dark, what can a city do to fight back?
What does Belfast's turmoil reveal about the unhealed wounds of Northern Ireland's past?