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Vivian Panka, who was set to star as Regina George in the UK tour of the musical *Mean Girls*, has expressed her fear and distress following violent disturbances in Belfast, which led to the cancellation of the show. Panka, notable for being the first black actress to play the role, revealed on TikTok that she had not left her home since the unrest began on Tuesday, keeping her blinds closed out of concern for her safety.
The production was scheduled to open at Belfast’s Grand Opera House on Tuesday evening but was cancelled due to planned protests in the city. After initially cancelling the opening night as well as the performances on Wednesday evening and Thursday matinee, producers have announced that the remainder of the show’s run has now been called off entirely. The musical was meant to run from 9 June through 20 June.
In her social media posts, the Dutch actress voiced sadness over the situation, emphasizing her worries not only for herself as a person of colour but also for the entire company. “People are saying and doing things that I completely don’t agree with, and it’s very scary to be here right now, especially as a person of colour – but just I’m worried for everyone in our company,” she stated. Panka also described the impact of the unrest by mentioning fires on the streets and confirmed that the decision to cancel the shows was made collaboratively by the theatre and the company to ensure safety.
Additionally, Panka addressed the backlash she had received from fans upset about the cancellation, urging understanding of her current circumstances. She explained, “I haven’t left my house because I am scared to do so,” and clarified that the cancellations were due to safety concerns rather than illness. “It’s not our choice to not come in. It’s a safety issue. And it’s not just for us, it’s for the audience and it’s for everyone who works at the theatre too.” The Grand Opera House released a statement apologizing for the disappointment caused by the cancellations and confirmed that ticket holders will be contacted about refunds shortly
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