The Lion, the Witch and the Trapdoor: Actor falls through stage during performance in Leeds

Normally, the only magical portal in C S Lewis's classic Narnia tale is the wardrobe itself, but during a soiree on Thursday night, one of the actors disappeared through the boards after a trapdoor suddenly collapsed.

The mishap occurred moments into the second half of the performance, at about 9pm, when an actor playing 'Squirrel' leaped from a lamp-post prop and landed on a trapdoor, which gave way, leading to him falling into the gap below.

While the actor made a swift exit, the play briefly continued until an assistant emerged to order the cast off stage and inform the audience there was a problem.

Stage crew then spent 15 minutes trying to repair the stage using a power drill before the actors returned - with Squirrel appearing to be wearing an ice pack.

A member of the audience said:

"Once the door was fixed, the crew hands who did the work were given a rousing round of applause as they made their way off stage. The actors then came back on stage to continue the show, with one playing Father Christmas joking: 'This is what happens when you haven't been to a party in 100 years.' "

"The actor playing Squirrel also re-appeared and during one scene in which they share presents, jested: 'Do you know, I quite like Christmas, even if I did fall down a hole.

The show, choreographed and produced by Sally Cookson, runs at West Yorkshire Playhouse until January 27.