Actor David Birrell Sues Theatre Over Blindness

In the papers filed at the High Court, it is stated that the actor has suffered "total and permanent blindness in the right eye" after a blank cartridge in the gun "ejected rearwards and at high velocity through the breach cut into the revolver and into his right eye" leaving the eye "shrunken and unsightly" and forcing Birrell to wear a cosmetic shield over it. The papers also claim that he has "lost the facility of binocular vision, has difficulty judging distances and with hand-eye coordination, tends to collide with objects on his right hand side."

Donmar Warehouse's defence suit admits liability for the accident under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations Act of 1998. However, there is a disagreement rumbling between Donmar and History in the Making over whether or not the gun was definitely one supplied by the prop company (it was removed as evidence so has not been seen by either party, it would appear) and whether or not the theatre company were using the correct ammunition.