Apollo Theatre: Ceiling collapse probe under way
Some reports suggested water began dripping through cracks in the ceiling before it came down.
The theatre's owner described the incident as "shocking and upsetting".
'It was horrific'
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Graham Ellis of the London Fire Brigade said the plasterwork had fallen on to the upper circle, the dress circle and the stalls.
The BBC's Tim Muffett was onboard with the London Ambulance Service when they were called to help treat the injured
He said: "The injuries to the casualties that our colleagues have spoken about are consistent with that.
"We've manage to stabilise the situation inside the theatre. We're working closely with colleagues at Westminster City Council, their building surveyors."
The collapse happened at 20:15 GMT on Thursday when theatre was almost full, with 720 people watching the performance.
Of the 76 injured, 58 were taken to four London hospitals.
There were no life-threatening injuries.
Witnesses said police and emergency crews were at the scene within minutes
Firecrews used an aerial ladder platform to inspect the theatre roof
The theatre was almost full with 720 people watching the performance
Chris Edwards' son and daughter-in-law were injured and remained in hospital.
Mr Edwards said: "I was in seat F3 with my family all around me when part of the roof fell in right on top of us.
"I first heard cracking, then looked up to see a big part of the roof coming down. It was horrific.
"Larger pieces hit my younger son and he's still in hospital with a broken collar bone and suspected damage to his spine.
"I tried to cover my daughter-in-law, who is pregnant, to protect her but some of the debris fell on her back. Thankfully she and the baby are safe.
Eyewitness Khalil Anjarwalla: "Everyone was screaming"
"I have cuts and bruises myself, but we believe we have been very lucky. But I am really angry about this too. It was so lucky that someone wasn't killed."
Dermot Cavanagh was sitting in the balcony.
"The whole row stood up and there were suppressed murmurs and shrieks and shortly after that there was this large ornate ceiling rose with a chandelier in the middle just came down and a huge brownish grey cloud of dust came up from the stalls," he said.
'Swift and effective'
The emergency response included 25 ambulance crews, an air ambulance rapid response team, eight fire engines and more than 50 firefighters. Police were also in attendance.
Three London buses were commandeered to take patients to hospital.
Witnesses said the emergency services were at the scene within minutes.
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust said 34 adults and five children were treated at the accident and emergency department at St Thomas' Hospital.
The majority had cuts and bruises but a small number had fractures. The three most serious cases had injuries to the neck and back, or head.
A spokesman for Nimax Theatres, which owns the Apollo, said an investigation was under way and "thoughts are with the audience and staff".
Mark Haddon, author of the book on which the play is based, tweeted: "It's been horrifying sitting here watching what has been happening at the Apollo this evening. I'm hugely relieved that no-one has died."
The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time has been running in London since August 2012.
The show started at the National Theatre, before transferring to the Apollo in March this year.
The Grade II-listed Apollo was built in 1901 and has 775 seats over four levels.
Nimax Theatres also runs the Garrick, Duchess and Vaudeville theatres.
Source:BBC
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