The decidedly pro-revolution message of Les Misérables appeared to be lost on an audience during a recent performance in London’s West End after a group of protesters from Just Stop Oil received a resounding round of boos during the show's Act I finale.


Shortly after the cast began performing “Do You Hear the People Sing?” during Wednesday evening’s performance at the Sondheim Theatre, several demonstrators from the British activist group stormed the stage, carrying flags reading “Just Stop Oil” and “The Show Can’t Go On.”



But even with the play’s famously revolutionary message, theatergoers were having none of the interruption.


"Get off. Stupid people. Get off!” one woman can be heard yelling through a chorus of boos. “How dare you?"


Though five people were ultimately arrested in connection to the incident, the Metropolitan police confirmed to The Guardian, Just Stop Oil still stood by their controversial protest, heading to Twitter to liken their cause to that championed in the iconic 1980 musical.


“Like the citizens of Paris in 1832, you have locked your doors, while the young face slaughter on the streets,” the group wrote in a statement shared to social media, referencing the plot of Les Misérables. “We will inherit a scorched earth, unfit to live in and our politicians will be long gone. We cannot let this stand. The show cannot go on.”



But regardless of whether you’re for or against the demonstrators’ message, one thing is certain — as actor Luke Baker so aptly suggested on Twitter, “they could’ve at least joined in the choreography and secretly swapped out the flag.”