Postlethwaite treated in hospital

The actor will perform on Monday night as planned

Oscar-nominated star Pete Postlethwaite has been treated in hospital after suffering an allergic reaction.

The Warrington-born actor suffered the scare while staying with friends in Liverpool, where he is playing King Lear at the city's Everyman theatre.

A spokeswoman for the theatre said he was given an adrenalin injection as a "precautionary measure" and admitted overnight for observation.

The actor has since been discharged and the evening performance will go ahead.

The show had been thrown into doubt by Postlethwaite's hospital admission.

Sold out

A theatre spokeswoman said: "On Sunday evening Pete Postlethwaite had an allergic reaction and, as a precautionary measure, was taken by the friends he is staying with in Liverpool to A&E at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

"As is normal procedure for allergic reactions he received an adrenalin injection and is recovering well... Pete would like to thank the staff at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

"He is scheduled to appear this evening in King Lear at the Liverpool Everyman."

Billed as the stage highlight of the Capital of Culture year, King Lear began its month-long run at the Everyman on 30 October.

Demand to see the Shakespeare tragedy has been high and advance tickets for the shows are sold out.

Postlethwaite began his acting career on the Everyman stage in the 1970s alongside the likes of Julie Walters and Bill Nighy.

Speaking ahead of rehearsals for the production, Postlethwaite told the BBC he felt "exhilarated, excited and thrilled" about the prospect of returning to Liverpool.