Noise complaints close African musical

Cast were recruited from South Africa's under-privileged

South African hit musical Umoja has ended its West End run after complaints from neighbours about noise.

The show opened two months ago at London's Shaftesbury Theatre and proved such a hit that its run was extended until May.

But the sound of the show' s drumming led residents in a neighbouring apartment block to complain.

We're not going anywhere - we're looking for another theatre

Joe Theron, Umoja producer

Now Camden Council has issued a noise abatement notice ordering the theatre to reduce the noise and the show has been forced to close.

A spokesman for the council told BBC News Online: "The bass noise is the problem.

"It's not so much about the decibel level of the volume - but the frequency."

The show's producer said that efforts had been made to reduce the volume of the drums, such as muffling them with pillows and sand.

'Insensitive'

Richard Pulford, chief executive of the Society of London Theatre, described Camden Council's action as "astonishing".

The show had standing ovations every night

"Camden Council has chosen to pursue its responsibilities in respect of noise abatement in a manner which is both bureaucratically rigid and insensitive to the realities of modern day theatre production and presentation," said Mr Pulford.

A spokesman for Camden council said they had "never wanted" the show to close, but added: "We have a legal obligation to protect the quality of our residents' lives.

"The noise was so bad that people could not even hear their televisions."

Umoja's producer Joe Theron recruited the 30-strong cast from among the homeless, criminals and drug users in South Africa.

Mr Theron told BBC News Online said the show would stay in London: "We're not going anywhere.

"We're looking for another theatre, preferably in the West End.

"We're very positive - there are a couple of offers on the table - and we'll be checking the theatres for potential sound problems."