Derren Brown's Only Human show at Birmingham Hippodrome took an unexpected turn when the theatre was evacuated due to a potential emergency. However, not everyone in the audience believed the evacuation was genuine.
Evacuation During Performance
On Friday, June 12, staff at the Hurst Street venue alerted attendees to a 'potential emergency' and asked everyone to leave. The mentalist later revealed on social media that two audience members refused to evacuate, insisting it was part of the show.
Brown posted about the incident on Monday, June 15, describing it as a 'nightmare for security and protocol'. He praised the theatre staff for safely evacuating and re-admitting around 2,000 people.
Audience Reaction
In his social media post, Brown wrote: 'We all got evacuated from the Birmingham Hippodrome during the show after a potential emergency. Incredible job by the staff getting some 2,000 people out and back in again.'
He added: 'Two audience members lay down on the floor and refused to leave, insisting it was part of the show (a nightmare for security and protocol but I love them for that).'
Theatre Statement
A spokesperson for Birmingham Hippodrome confirmed the evacuation was a false alarm. They said: 'A sensor in our building was activated during the Friday evening performance, implementing our procedure to evacuate the building. On investigation, a false alarm was confirmed and our audiences returned to the auditorium to enjoy the rest of the performance.'
The spokesperson thanked the audience for their support and praised the theatre teams and Derren Brown for ensuring a safe and efficient evacuation.
Show Details
The Only Human show ran from Tuesday, June 2 until Saturday, June 13. Brown expressed gratitude to Birmingham for being an 'excellent crowd' and noted his sadness at heading home. He is set to continue his tour in Edinburgh, Stoke, Stockton, and Sheffield.
Upcoming Magic Show
For those who enjoy entertaining trickery, Dynamo is returning to Birmingham for his first UK tour in a decade. The Up Close and Magical show will take place at The Old Rep on Station Street from February 1, 2027, for a five-date run, promising to 'blow your mind and leave you questioning how he makes the impossible possible'.
