Keira Knightley’s Broadway debut was interrupted when a member of the audience shouted at the actress and threw a bouquet of flowers at the stage.

The 30-year-old actress, who plays the title character in the play Therese Raquin, was on stage for the show’s opening night last night (October 1) with co-star Gabriel Ebert when the disturbance took place at the Studio 54 Theatre in New York.

According to The Guardian, he started shouting at the stage, and when Keira didn’t reply, he yelled: “Five seconds is too long to wait for a response!”

The man was later escorted out from the theatre.

It is the same location where actor Shia LaBeouf was handcuffed during a performance of Cabaret for yelling obscenities in 2014.

Jessica Johnson, who represents the Roundabout Theatre Company, said the safety of actors and audiences is taken very seriously and extra security would be added starting today (October 2).

Gabriel Ebert, Judith Light, Keira Knightley and Matt Ryan
Gabriel Ebert, Judith Light, Keira Knightley and Matt Ryan (Lukas Greyson/AP)

Keira stars alongside Tony winners Gabriel and Judith, along with Matt Ryan in the stage production of Emile Zola’s novel.

Directed by Evan Cabnet, the show is scheduled to officially open on October 29.