A BUILDER-turned-actor stepped in last week to save production in Cirencester after a radiator leak threatened to halt its gala night performance.
With only 20 minutes left, the Barn Theatre's production of Around the World in 80 Days on Friday (February 10) was in full swing.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a severed radiator pipe backstage began spewing water, forcing the show's crew to try to stop the flow of water into the auditorium with towels.
But actor James El-Sharaway, who plays Passepartout and a variety of other roles in the show, decided to take emergency action.
James - who is a former builder - jumped off stage in the middle of the scene and continued to deliver his lines to the other two cast members from the wings.
While doing so, he successfully isolated the radiator pipe.
When the crisis was resolved, he returned to the stage with co-stars Adam Elliot and Evangeline Dickson as if nothing had happened.
“Ironically, I was way calmer dealing with the radiator than with the nerves of gala night,” James said.
“A lot of people panic when water is shooting everywhere. I have been in those situations for years.
“I actually started as a labourer before acting and ended up going into business with one of my friends, renovating buildings.
“My co-stars Evie and Adam were incredible on stage. Adam kept doing the scene, and I suddenly heard him saying my lines – ad-libbing in a slightly different way while I was fixing the problem.
“They carried on, it was brilliant and none of the audience even realised!”
According to the theatre, the water leak issue arose when a cast member collided with the radiator while pushing a trolly offstage.
Around the World in 80 Days continues until March 11, with the piece adapted by Toby Hulse and directed by Joseph O'Malley.
You can get tickets online at www.barntheatre.org.uk or via the theatre’s box office at 01285 648255.
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