Police cordon lifted following incident involving a man on RST rooftop terrace

POLICE helped a man down from the rooftop terrace of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre on Saturday afternoon (18th March).

Officers had cordoned off the RSC, Waterside and the canal basin as they went to the aid of a man, aged approximately in his 40s, who could be seen sat on a railing outside the theatre's Rooftop Restaurant.

At times another man, possibly a plain clothes police officer, was negotiating with him.

The incident began to unfold at approximately 12.30pm.

By 3.40pm Waterside had been reopened as the last of the police tape had been removed.

The RSC said it was still planning to stage tonight’s production of Julius Caesar but it was expecting to cancel pre-show dining in its restaurant.

Warwickshire Police said: "Emergency services are currently responding to a concern for welfare for a man at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre on Waterside in Stratford. Please avoid the area while we respond to this incident. Thank you for your patience."

RSC front of house staff and security were deployed to prevent members of the public breaching the taped-off cordon which extended around large parts of the theatre grounds, including Bancroft Gardens and Waterside.