'Pranksters' break into NT, explore Follies set...

The pranksters have managed to full off the impossible and make this production of Follies a lot more interesting then it actually is

Ergh. It makes all the rigourous bag-checking and closing of various entrances seem a bit redundant if it was this easy to gain access to the theatre.

I'm mostly feeling utter fury at them. Yes, there's a snobby part of me that thinks "how dare they, don't they have ANY respect for our National Theatre" (and is also fairly contemptuous at how impressed they are at being able to see the London Eye, like it's not a highly visible landmark right in the centre of London, such tourists), but there's also a fairly sensible part that is angry they felt the need to climb all over the place like monkeys when a) there are staircases and b) if one of them had died, that would have had SERIOUS consequences for the theatre. I'm already worried about the consequences for the featured security guard who, yes, really should have been more rigorous when checking these guys had a right to be there (I know there are hundreds of employees at the NT but I'm pretty certain they all have staff passes) but who wouldn't have had to be in that situation if these idiots hadn't decided it was cool to trespass.

But I'm not going to lie, there is a part of me that appreciated getting a look into the Olivier flies. It's all well and good being told they could comfortably hang a double-decker bus over the stage, but the different vantage point was *whispers* kinda cool.

Did you link to the video itself? It might be that this thread is okay 'cos it only links to the BBC News article on the subject. At a guess.

To quote Stuart Maconie ...

The theatre was built before the need for stringent security with so many entrances. The last time I visited the NT (Follies) I was astonished that there were rigorous bag checks at the main entrance but people were ascending the internal staircases from the car park completely unchecked!

What annoyed me most was that they had the audacity to actual climb on and explore the staircase aspect of the set for Follies. Had something significant been broken, what would have happened to upcoming performances? Who would have paid for set damages? Would NT be compensated for lost revenue? I’m amazed, especially as the YouTube account is verified, that google allow videos like this to be made continually which surely only promotes more incidents of tresspassing and risk of damage to the self and the property of others.

Yes, but it wasn't.

I have watched a lot of those mildly similar urban exploration videos, where people explore areas of interest (usually by climbing their way in) the public are not allowed into. I find them entertaining and often revealing, albeit it’s something I’d never do. I’d be hypocritical if I therefore criticised this. It’s illegal, it’s a bit morally wrong, but it’s not the end of the world. Certainly there’s a lot of appetite for this sort of thing.

As a side note, I’d love it if the NT did an extreme backstage tour. It’s nice the one they have, but I want to go everywhere, I want to see everything. It should be 3 hours long. You should have to climb up ladders and get to spin inside the drum revolve.

It’s not like going into an abandoned building, there’s a lot of equipment that people rely on to be safe and not messed with. It’s a working space. I presume that the NT will press charges, given the potential endangerment of its employees, a crime is still a crime.

Not good. Gives people ideas. Not just you Ryan ,but seriously nasty people.

No apology required by me TM. You said it was removed as it was part of an "ongoing investigation" and the "legality" was being discussed. Why, when all the major news outlets. And even Whatsonstage had reported it publicly.

And here, for some assistance:

ban1
ban/
verb
past tense: banned; past participle: banned
officially or legally prohibit (something).

You cannot deny the post was banned.