Hamlet actor settles ‘sword fight’ action

An actor who was injured during a sword fight on stage during a production of Hamlet has settled his High Court action.

In court yesterday, Eogan Fitzsimons SC, for Conor Madden, told Mr Justice Kevin Cross the case could be struck out.

Mr Madden (26) was injured in the freak accident at Cork’s Everyman Palace Theatre in March 2011. He had sued the Second Age Theatre Company as a result of the incident.

Mr Madden was playing Hamlet in the production and was duelling on stage when he was accidentally struck in the face with a round-tip sword.

At the time, it was reported the flesh underneath Mr Madden’s eye had been cut and he collapsed on stage. Initially, some in the audience thought the actor’s moans were part of the production.

The play was stopped and Mr Madden was taken to Cork University Hospital where stitches were administered.