John Woodvine in ‘stable’ condition after collapsing during Carousel

Actor John Woodvine is reportedly in a “stable” condition after collapsing during a performance of Carousel on Friday.

The Z Cars star and Royal Shakespeare Company veteran, who is playing Star Keeper in the production at the Grand Theatre, Leeds, collapsed in the wings roughly ten minutes after his first entrance, according to the Yorkshire Post.

A member of the theatre’s staff told the paper, “He sounded fine. Then there was a silence and stage management asked if there was a doctor in the house. They had brought the safety curtain in and another announcement was made for the audience saying there had been a medical emergency and the performance would be temporarily stopped.”

Woodvine was taken by ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary. A spokesperson for Opera North, who are producing Carousel, told Whatsonstage.com that he is currently in a stable condition.

The 82 year-old actor’s many stage credits including the seminal RSC Macbeth starring Ian McKellen and Judi Dench, and he was recently seen on screen in the award-winning Channel 4 series Shameless.

Members of Friday’s audience have been offered tickets to an alternative performance of Carousel ahead of the final show in Leeds on May 19. The production, which is directed by Jo Davies, will run at the Barbican in London from 15 August to 15 September 2012.

The role of Star Keeper is currently being played by understudy Peter Bodenham.