Mathew Horne collapses on stage during West End show

The curtain fell on Entertaining Mr Sloane at the Trafalgar Studios midway through yesterday's performance after Mathew Horne collapsed on stage.

The Gavin and Stacey actor was taken to hospital suffering from exhaustion after the audience was asked if there was a doctor in the house.

As Horne was being treated, his co-star Imelda Staunton stepped forward to explain to the audience why the show had to be stopped, admitting she, too, was feeling unwell.

The Oscar-nominated actress could be suffering from a stomach bug reportedly circulating among the cast.

Staunton apologised to the audience, and advised them to speak to the box office about a refund or tickets for an alternative date. She was interrupted three times by rounds of applause.

Understudies replaced the two leading lights for the evening performance of the Sixties play by Joe Orton.

But the double no-show upset some of last night's audience, such as credit card controller Stewart Hardy, 41, from Wallington, south-west London, who said: "You pay your money to see the stars and I was upset when they said neither would be appearing. The understudies were good but it felt like an amateur dramatic production."

Helen English, who travelled from Somerset to see the play, said: "It is really disappointing, I wanted to see Imelda Staunton. It is really bad luck for both of them to be missing. I can't afford to come back and the run ends on 11 April. I paid £90 for two tickets and £10 for two ice creams."

Horne's understudy, Fergus March, was immediately prepared to go on for the evening performance after hearing about the star's collapse while sitting in his dressing room.

Despite the reservations of some audience members at the stars' absence, March and fellow understudy Sharon Eckman took three bows.

Horne, 30, is due to make a decision today whether to continue with the show, which opened on 22 January and is due to close in a week's time.

His spokesman said: "He's much better but he's going to give it a night and then make a decision about going back on. It was the effects of just working flat out for the last three months."

It is also uncertain when Staunton will be able to return to her role. Her spokeswoman said: "She felt unwell this afternoon and decided to have a rest and not go on tonight."