Taron Egerton, star of Rocketman and the Kingsman films, fainted in the middle of the first preview of Cock at the Ambassadors Theatre in London's West End. A doctor in the audience quickly tended to Egerton, who is 32-years-old.
After a brief pause, director Marianne Elliott came onstage to assure the audience that Egerton was doing “absolutely fine” backstage. For the health and safety of the company, it was decided that he was unable to continue, and understudy Joel Harper-Jackson stepped in to complete the performance.
A statement from the play’s production read: 'During this evening’s first preview of Mike Bartlett’s play Cock at the Ambassadors Theatre, Taron Egerton fainted towards the end of the performance. A doctor who was in the audience attended to Taron immediately after the incident, and whilst he felt fine, it was decided that Taron’s understudy, Joel Harper-Jackson would continue in the role to complete the performance.'
Egerton took to Instagram stories March 6 with his own assurance: "As some of you may have heard, I passed out during the first performance of COCK last night. I am completely fine. Slightly sore neck and a bruised ego but I'm fine.
"I've decided to put a positive spin on it and I would appreciate it if anyone who was in the theatre last night just said that I gave such a committed, electrifying performance that my body couldn't handle it and checked out. That being said, apparently you're meant to actually do the full show and not just three quarters of it. So I'll be back with a vengeance tomorrow night.
"Thank you to the amazing team at the theatre and my wonderful cast mates for being so lovely.
"But mainly I wanted to say thanks to Joel Harper Jackson who stepped in to do the last bit of the play. Joel is an amazing actor and a lovely person. Thank you Joel. T x"
Cock is the story of a gay man who becomes embroiled in confusion when he falls in love with a woman on his commute through London. The production is set to run through June 4.
