Laurence Fox launches into four-letter rant against a heckler during performance of The Patriotic Traitor

Rant: Laurence Fox gives heckler a talking to during The Patriotic Traitor
Rex
9 March 2016
The Weekender

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Laurence Fox stunned theatregoers by launching into a four-letter rant against a heckler mid-performance.

The actor, playing Charles de Gaulle in The Patriotic Traitor, changed his final speech to attack a man sitting in the front row who had apparently barracked him.

Fox was heard to say: “I won’t bother telling you the story because this c*** in the front row has ruined it for everybody”.

He was then said to have stormed from the stage looking furious, leaving his co-star Tom Conti to wander off. The rest of the cast came on for their bow without him after last night’s show at Park Theatre in Finsbury Park.

Theatregoers took to Twitter asking Fox what had happened. BBC producer Lewis Vickers tweeted: “Exceptional performance of #PatrioticTraitor... [Fox] dealt brilliantly with that cunning stunt at the end.”

Fox replied: “He was a cunning stunt wasn’t he..? Apologies for my being a cunning stunt as well... So glad you liked it.”

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Vickers replied: “I thought you dealt with it quite well in the circumstances. I hope the rest of the run goes well.”

The Patriotic Traitor tells the true story of the relationship between de Gaulle and Philippe Pétain, played by Conti.

The close army comrades ended up on opposite sides in the Second World War, with Pétain becoming the collaborationist leader of Nazi-occupied France.

The play is written by Jonathan Lynn, known for directing comedy films such as Nuns on the Run. Fox, 37, who is married to singer and actress Billie Piper, has grown a de Gaulle-style moustache for the show.

One theatregoer tweeted: “@mrjonathanlynn saw the play tonight with my mum. Any idea what that was at the end with @LozzaFox and the apparent heckler? Superb evening!”

Jez Bond, artistic director at Park Theatre said: “Park Theatre takes the welfare of its performers, staff and patrons very seriously. We are investigating the incident, and have no further comment at this time.”

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