Theatre ceiling collapse caused by 112-year-old supports

A ceiling collapse at a London West End theatre which injured audience members and forced its closure was caused by “the deterioration” of century-old cloth and plaster ties holding up timber frames, according to Westminster Council.

The Grade II-listed Apollo theatre will re-open this week for the first time since December 19 when about 10 square yards of plaster plummeted on to the stalls below, injuring 80 people, during a performance of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time.