THE theatrical expression “break a leg” was never so true as at The Nuffield this week.

West End star Simon Slater, whose work includes a five-year run in the musical Mamma Mia! as Sam Charmichael, arrived to open his latest show to discover not just one key theatre staff member on crutches but two!

Lighting designer David Kidd, who has lit shows all over the world, fell from a ladder six weeks ago, breaking his leg in three places.

Meanwhile, designer Robin Don, who was nominated for an Olivier Award last year, is also on crutches from an operation last month.

Simon Slater told Scene South: “Believe me, I am being very careful getting on and off stage!”

The play Bloodshot, which receives its world premiere in Southampton, is a thriller in which Simon plays a tipsy photographer hired to take photographs of a mysterious woman walking in the park.

As well as telling the story, Simon plays the ukulele and saxophone, and does conjuring tricks.

Artistic director Patrick Sandford explains that the original good luck expression “break a leg” actually refers to the rope that operates the theatre curtain. This rope was called a leg, and “break a leg” means a desire for the curtain to rise and fall so many times with applause at the curtain call that the rope breaks!

• Bloodshot opens tonight. Tickets: 023 8067 1771 or visit nuffieldtheatre.co.uk.