Sydney theatre evacuated during ballet - Sydney Morning Herald

Evacuated ... Giselle by the Paris Opera Ballet at the Capitol Theatre. Photo: Ben Rushton

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

Giselle at the Capitol Theatre. Photo: Ben Rushton

The battery was part of a back-up system that powers the building if the electricity fails, said City of Sydney fire station commander Craig Hashman.

The incident occurred about halfway through the matinee performance by French company Paris Opera Ballet.

The building management noticed the problem when white smoke started wafting through the back of the theatre.

Station Commander Hashman said the smoke was not toxic.

Australian Paris Opera Ballet company manager Andris Toppe said the evacuation occurred during the interval after Act 1.

"So the show wasn't really disrupted, but it was delayed," he said. "We did have ballerinas in white tutus waiting in Belmore Park, much to the amusement of passers-by."

He said there was a "huge" round of applause when the audience returned to the and the orchestra returned to start Act 2.

A theatre spokeswoman said the performance resumed about 3.30pm.

The classical ballet is showing at the theatre until February 9.