Vivian Panka, star of the Mean Girls UK tour, has shared she’s ‘scared to leave her house’ while staying in Belfast after riots broke out.
The musical is currently meant to be on tour in Northern Ireland, but all shows have been cancelled due to the disorder.
The popular show was due to open at the Grand Opera House on Tuesday night but matinees and evening performances have all been scrapped.
Police have been preparing ahead of what could be a third night of violence triggered by a knife attack.
Vivian, who is the first black actress to portray Regina George, took to TikTok to share her experience but has since deleted the video.
She said it was ‘very sad that the situation is happening right now’, according to the BBC, revealing she’s been keeping her curtains closed out of fear.
‘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,’ Vivian continued.
‘There were fires in the street. The company that I work for and the theatre have decided to cancel yesterday’s show, which was good.’
According to the actress, 29, some fans have actually messaged her, angry that the shows were cancelled.
She asked for consideration for the cast, especially those who are people of colour, as ‘people are actively targeting black people’.
‘I just really wanna ask people to think before they send me a DM because I haven’t left my house because I am scared to do so,’ she explained. ‘My blinds, I just opened them slightly to make this video, but they have been closed.’
The cancellations were due to a safety issue for everyone, not just the company, with Vivian emphasising that this was ‘not their choice’.
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‘I’m just very careful because I’m not even from this country,’ she added, having been born in the Netherlands and moved to London a few years ago.
Vivian revealed she had been cast as head mean girl Regina George, played by Rachel McAdams in the original film, in March.
She called it ‘monumental’ at the time, admitting she never thought she’d land the role despite ‘always wanting to play’ the legendary character.
Mean Girls The Musical was due to run from June 9 to June 20 at the Grand Opera House in Belfast, with no word on if it will reopen.
A spokesperson for Belfast’s Grand Opera House told the BBC: ‘Given the uncertainty caused by the unrest in recent days, the producers of Mean Girls have taken the difficult decision to cancel the musical’s run at the Grand Opera House.
‘We know that customers will share our disappointment, and on behalf of the producers and the Theatre, we apologise for any inconvenience caused. Ticket holders will be contacted directly by email over the next few days regarding refund arrangements.’
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