Tongan-Kiwi tenor Filipe Manu has withdrawn from the world premiere of Andrea Battistoni’s “Zombie Opera” at the Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège due to an accident that occurred during an Oct. 12 dress rehearsal of “The Pearl Fishers” for New Zealand Opera.

Per an official press release issued by the tenor, a stage device (a reclining chair designed for beauty treatments that was used on a sloping stage to restrain a performer during an execution scene) collapsed while Manu was restrained at both wrists, his waist, and ankles when the backrest of the device gave way, forcing his upper body back approximately 90 degrees while his lower body remained secured. As a result, Manu was unable to bring himself upright.

Manu noted in his statement that the chair was not fit for those demands and had failed repeatedly during rehearsals in Auckland, including an open public rehearsal on Sept. 5. He added that he raised safety concerns with the company on several occasions, but only a temporary support was fitted to the device.

Due to his back, neck and shoulder injuries, Manu was forced to withdraw from all three Christchurch performances and has yet to receive an apology from New Zealand Opera.

“I understand that accidents happen. But this was not a freak accident. The device had failed repeatedly and I had raised safety concerns. The problem had not been resolved, and I was injured,” Manu said, per the release.

Moreover, he has launched a campaign titled “The show must go on: but at whose expense?” which calls for thorough safety assessments of staging, props and equipment, including documented checks and testing of in-house made or modified items before they are used with performers. The campaign also demands clear action when safety concerns are raised and explicit safety provisions in performers’ contracts.

He has also asked ACC, New Zealand’s accident compensation agency, to create a dedicated occupational profile for opera singers.

OperaWire has reached out to New Zealand Opera for comment.