London play paused after theatregoers felt faint during abortion scene

Mainly male audience members had to step out of preview performance of The Years after graphic scene

An award-winning play premiering in London had to be stopped for 10 minutes during a preview performance on Monday after several mainly male audience members called for medical assistance after a graphic abortion scene.

The Years, directed by Eline Arbo, is about one woman's personal and political story, set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing postwar Europe - from advances in reproductive rights to setbacks such as sexism in the workplace.