West End actor shot in face by accident in rehearsal

AN actor was shot in the face by accident during an on-stage duel in a musical in London’s West End.

David Birrell, 35, was rushed to University College Hospital with a serious eye injury after another actor fired a faulty gun, which was meant to fire blanks, reported the London Daily Telegraph yesterday.

The musical, Stephen Sondheim’s Passion, at the Donmar Warehouse theater was immediately canceled. The accident happened during a scene in which Birrell’s character challenged another to a duel.Theater staff were investigating the incident.

Birrell has starred in musical Monty Python's Spamalot and had TV roles in Coronation Street, Midsomer Murders, Heartbeat and The Bill.