Government’s national emergency alert test set to clash with Sunday matinee performances

An emergency alarm test is set to clash with Sunday matinee performances later this month.

Mobile phones in the UK that are turned on will experience 10 seconds of sound and vibration at 3pm BST on 23 April in order to test a new alerts system. According to the government, the alert system can warn of extreme weather events, such as flash floods, or if there are terror incidents.

The sound and vibration will take place even if phones are muted, though those who have their phones switched off will not receive the message. The alerts can be turned off in advance, which has been flagged by organisations like Refuge for vulnerable people who have concealed devices at home.

According to the BBC, the test had originally been planned for the early evening but was moved to avoid clashing with an FA Cup semi-final, and also was set not to disrupt the London Marathon, which starts at 9:30am on that Sunday.

A number of West End shows have Sunday matinee performances scheduled for the 23rd, including 2:22 A Ghost Story, Frozen, Newsies, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, The Lion King, Matilda the Musical and The Play That Goes Wrong.

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