People passing by in London’s trendy Soho district could not believe their eyes as the famous actress staggered to her knees and then crawled across the cobblestones. Despite help from people around her she struggled to stand up.
Sheridan Smith appeared distressed as the public filmed the extraordinary scenes on their phones outside the Gielgud Theatre in the heart of theatreland’s West End.
Despite the late hour, the star was wearing large dark glasses paired with an eye-catching leopard-print coat, ripped jeans and white t-shirt.
It’s not actually yet another example of a celebrity behaving badly, however, but rather the latest in the trend for ground-breaking theatre shows to take the action out onto the streets during the show.
Nicole Sherzinger’s recent acclaimed Sunset Boulevard production opened Act 2 every night with a character walking out the stage door and being filmed singing the title song while he walked around the theatre and back in the front doors.
Sarah Snook’s current radical reinterpretation of The Picture of Dorian Gray has a full camera crew filming her every move throughout the show and Keeley Hawes’ latest show, The Human Body, features filmed and projected scenes.
Smith’s antics were similarly filmed and broadcast back inside to the audience inside watching it all unfold on a screen.
Other scenes outside show Smith happily smoking a cigarette beneath some scaffolding, and she was beaming with joy when she was captured, for real this time, leaving the stage door after the first performance.
The new musical is currently in previews and opens officially later this month. Smith has spoken about what a huge challenge the show is for her, especially since she had declared she would not tackle another musical after playing Fanny Brice in Funny Girl.
Based on John Cassavetes’ legendary film, Opening Night follows a theatre company’s preparations to stage a major new play on Broadway. When their leading lady, played by Smith, is rocked by tragedy, her personal turmoil forces everybody to deliver the performance of their lives.
Smith told The One Show: “I think it’s the biggest role and challenge I’ve taken on… The actress is having a mental crisis and they don’t know if she will make opening night…’
Smith added: “I hadn’t planned do anything like that but this part came along and I connected to it so much, I knew it was going to be a challenge but I have teh most amazing team and they are helping me through it…
“It’s a play with a play…This is very special, it’s going to be a very cool new musical… I’m very lucky and honoured to be working with these people…”
The musical is written and directed by experimental Belgian auteur Ivo van Hove with music and lyrics by Rufus Wainwright.