The play's first night at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre at the Savoy Theatre in London Monday, had to be stopped because of problems with the stage lighting.

The play, which stars Robert Lindsay in the title role, began as normal but around 40 minutes later, the lead actor found himself having to amend the script due to his changing surroundings.

My kingdom for a torch...

Mr Lindsay offered an indication of the lighting problem when Queen Margaret appeared for the first time.

In a sign of true professionalism and loyalty to character, Mr Lindsay said in Shakespearean style: "Who is speaking? I cannot see thee."

A few minutes later, one of the stage managers walked on stage and stopped the actors.

Matthew Gale, production executive for Triumph Proscenium Productions, the producers of the play, said: "Very simply, the light board for the show failed and we lost the stage lighting.

"It was very dark on stage and quite dangerous for the actors, who would not have been able to see much at all."

The problems has now been rectified as the theatre brought in a replacement lighting board all ready for the next performance.

Audience applauds the King

The RSC's Phillippa Harland said: "The theatre is very confident that all the lighting will be functioning as normal from now on. And to be on the safe side, it has now brought in a back-up lighting board just in case."

Ms Harland also said the audience had been very understanding with regard to the performance's abrupt end, with many simply sorry to have missed the second half of the play.