This afternoon’s performance of An Officer and a Gentleman at Ipswich Regent will go ahead with an understudy after one of the lead actors hurt her ankle during Wednesday evening’s show.

The hit musical, based on the 1982 blockbuster movie, has been greeted enthusiastically at the theatre, but Wednesday night’s show had to be stopped after Keisha Atwell was injured during a scene in the first half. She slipped while attempting to scale a wall and had to be taken to Ipswich Hospital’s A&E department.

Luckily nothing was broken but she has a sprain and will have to rest for a few days so an understudy is taking over the role and all performances will go ahead.

People who missed out on Wednesday’s show have been offered either a full refund or tickets for a performance later in the week – there are enough seats for everyone to see the show.

A theatre spokesman said: “We are glad that Keisha has not broken any bones in her fall and we wish her a speedy recovery. But in true theatrical tradition ‘the show will go on’.”