Following a road accident in which Grand Hotel actress Christine Grimandi was struck by a motorobike on a pedestrian crossing near Southwark Playhouse after the show, tonight’s performance of the acclaimed musical has had to be cancelled.
Producer Danielle Tarento said: “I’m very sorry to say that I have no choice but to cancel the show tonight. Christina is devastated but as a company we are just relieved she is OK.
“The good news is that, having spent the night with her in hospital, where she had numerous tests and scans, she has no broken bones and no concussion.”
Tonight’s audience are being contacted by the box office and either moved to another night or refunded. Tomorrow’s two shows are expected to go ahead with Christine back in the play.
As is common on the fringe, Grand Hotel has no understudies.
Christina, who plays ballerina Elizaveta Grushinskaya, is an acclaimed Italian Musical Theatre star making her eagerly awaited UK stage debut in Grand Hotel. Her previous starring roles include the youngest ever Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard in Germany.
Police are investigating the incident as the motorycyclist failed to stop after hitting Christine.
