Update: Exhausted Horne Collapses During Sloane

UPDATED, Fri 3 Apr 2008 @ 4.30pm: The latest information has now been added to this story. Updates are denoted in bold below.

Mathew Horne was rushed to hospital after collapsing during yesterday’s (2 April 2009) matinee performance of Entertaining Mr Sloane at the Trafalgar Studios.

Horne, who was suffering from exhaustion, missed the subsequent evening performance and it hasn’t yet been confirmed when he will return. The incident occurred ten minutes into the second act, when Horne slumped off a sofa onto the floor. His co-star Simon Paisley Day called out to the audience for a doctor, and an ambulance was called.

A spokesperson told Whatsonstage.com: “The producers are speaking to Mat this morning so we should know later today when he’ll be back … he’s been advised by doctors to rest due to exhaustion”. She confirmed that the collapse wasn’t due to the stomach bug which has affected several other cast members and caused the absence of Imelda Staunton from yesterday’s evening performance.

The producers have confirmed that Mathew Horne and Imelda Staunton will not return for this evening’s performance due to a virus. A decision will be taken tomorrow morning on whether they will take part in Saturday’s matinee and evening performances. They will be replaced by their understudies Fergus March and Sharon Eckman

Horne has had a punishing schedule of late, performing live shows with his comedy partner James Corden alongside his current TV commitments and performances of Entertaining Mr Sloane, in which he plays the title role.

Directed by Nick Bagnall, Joe Orton’s 1964 play  Entertaining Mr Sloane centres on the sexual tug-of-war between siblings Kath (Staunton) and Ed (Paisley Day) for the affections of handsome young lodger Sloane (Horne). It’s running for one more week, to 11 April.

– by Theo Bosanquet