Fire threat: Sydney theatre evacuated during ballet - Newcastle Herald

Feb. 2, 2013, 4:28 p.m.

Two thousand people were evacuated from the Capitol Theatre after a piece of theatre equipment malfunctioned during a matinee performance of the ballet Giselle.

Firefighters were called about 2.30pm on Saturday when a battery overheated at the theatre in Sydney's Haymarket, said Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Phillip Lindsay.

"There were no flames, but gas and fumes were coming out of a battery which had overheated," Superintendent Lindsay said.

"Ten fire fighters were called to the scene; they evacuated the audience and staff, isolated the battery and then ventilated the area."

"No one was injured and there were no suspicious circumstances," he added.

Firefighters removed the battery and used gas detectors to ensure the area was safe before the public was allowed back into the theatre.

The explosion happened about halfway through the 1.30pm performance of the ballet by French company Paris Opera Ballet.

By 3.15pm, the theatre had been declared safe. A theatre spokeswoman said the ballet performance resumed about 3.30pm.

Superintendent Lindsay said he wasn't sure what the battery was used for.

The spokeswoman did not comment on whether the audience would be compensated.

The classical ballet, showing at the theatre until February 9, reflects the history of the dance form.

It features choreography by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot from 1841, transmitted by Marius Petipa in 1887 and adapted by Patrice Bart and Eugene Polyakov in 1991. Sets and costumes follow the designs of Alexandre Benois from 1924.