During Thursday's performance of "Richard III" at Berlin's Schaubühne theatre, an unfortunate accident occurred. Renowned actor Lars Eidinger accidentally released a prop sword from his hand, which injured a woman seated in the front row. The performance was immediately halted, and the victim received medical assistance. Theatre representatives expressed deep regret over the incident, emphasizing that the actors and staff remain in shock.

Sword Accident

Actor Lars Eidinger accidentally released a sword, which struck an elderly woman in the head during the final fight scene.

Performance Halted

The Richard III performance was immediately terminated, and the audience left the theatre calmly after the actor's intervention.

Victim's Condition

The woman seated in the front row sustained only minor injuries; the theatre remains in contact with the victim.

A chilling incident took place on Thursday evening at the prestigious Schaubühne theatre in Berlin. During the final fight scene in William Shakespeare's drama "Richard III," the lead actor, 50-year-old Lars Eidinger, had a sword slip from his hand. The theatrical weapon flew over the edge of the stage and struck an elderly woman seated in the front row of the audience with its hilt. The event occurred at the climactic moment when the main character, in a nocturnal frenzy, battles his demons. The distance between the stage and the audience in this theatre is small, which increased the risk of injury during such dynamic action. The Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz theatre, founded in 1962, is one of the most important stages in West Berlin. Since the 1990s, under the direction of Thomas Ostermeier, it has been renowned for experimental and physically demanding stagings of classics.The artist's reaction was immediate. Lars Eidinger, seeing what happened, stopped acting, went down to the victim, and apologized for the unfortunate accident. The performance, which has enjoyed immense popularity for years and is consistently sold out, was definitively ended. The audience left the building in an orderly manner, and medical services were called to the scene. Fortunately, as confirmed by the institution's spokesperson, the viewer sustained only minor head injuries. The theatre issued a statement noting that the team is shocked by the evening's events. This incident has sparked a discussion in German media about safety during performances where actors engage in close interaction with the audience or handle dangerous objects. „We deeply regret this unfortunate accident during yesterday's performance and are still under the influence of shock.” — Schaubühne SpokespersonEidinger, considered one of the most outstanding contemporary German actors, has been portraying the tyrannical king in this particular staging for over ten years. The performance is characterized by high intensity and brutality, meant to reflect the monstrous nature of the character. Although actors use edged weapons prepared for stage purposes, the energy accompanying the fight can lead to loss of control over the object. Richard III in Eidinger's interpretation is an extremely dynamic character, making the accident all the more likely in the heat of battle.

Mentioned People

  • Lars Eidinger — German film and theatre actor, portraying the role of Richard III at the Schaubühne.
  • William Shakespeare — English playwright, author of the play Richard III performed at the theatre.