Idris Elba rushes to the aid of theatre-goer having seizure at his new play

Idris Elba reportedly rushed to the aid of a theatre-goer attending his new play in Manchester on Wednesday night, after she suffered a seizure.

33-year-old Amanda Billington, an illustrator, fell ill during the performance of Tree, being staged at the Upper Campfield Market.

According to the Daily Mirror, Elba stayed with Ms Billington, who has an undiagnosed condition which causes regular seizures, until paramedics arrived on the scene.

Read more: Elba accused of removing young writers from new play

He then escorted her to the ambulance.

Elba's play, called Tree and starring Sinead Cusack and Alfred Enoch, is being stage as part of the Manchester International Festival, which officially opened last night, with performances from Yoko Ono and Janelle Monae.

John McGrath, the festival's artistic director, told the BBC: “She was right next to Idris in the audience so he was there trying to help out and make sure that paramedic support workers got to her.

“I believe that the lady is now well and fine but it was certainly helpful that Idris was there to help out with that.”

After being taken to hospital, Ms Billington, from Salford, was discharged after having a check up.

“I would love to thank him personally, but doubt I will cross paths with him, he’s very famous,” she told the paper.

The play was created by The Wire star and playwright Kwame Kwei-Armah, the artistic director at the Young Vic theatre.

However, a row broke out earlier this week when two young writers who worked on the production claimed that they had been pushed out, suffering 'intimidation and disrespect'.

Tori Allen-Martin and Sarah Henley said that they worked on the play for four years.

Elba posted a statement on Twitter yesterday, addressing the claims, and saying that they had been acknowledged in the play's programme.

The show runs until July 13.