Actor Josephine Melville has died backstage at Nottingham Playhouse after a performance of the play Nine Night.
She received immediate assistance from Nottingham Playhouse first-aiders and a medically qualified member of the Nine Night audience on Thursday evening. The swift arrival of paramedics meant she was quickly and expertly treated but she passed away at the scene.
Nine Night is a co-production between Leeds Playhouse and Nottingham Playhouse. A spokesperson said the entire company and staff at both theatres were in state of shock. All performances of Nine Night at Nottingham Playhouse have been cancelled.
Nottingham Playhouse chief executive Stephanie Sirr said, “we send our love and condolences to Jo’s family and friends. On a deeply tragic and extremely difficult evening we want to pay tribute to the company of Nine Night and to the whole Nottingham Playhouse team who managed the situation with empathy and professionalism.”
Chief executive and artistic director of Leeds Playhouse James Brining added, “we’re profoundly saddened by Jo’s passing and add our condolences to her family and loved ones. We were truly honoured to work with her on this wonderful co-production of Nine Night and are doing everything we can to support her family, the company and staff across both theatres.”