Several heard the news as they left the opening night of Stephen Ward, the new musical from Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Sir Richard Eyre, the show's director and a former director of the National Theatre, said the news was "frightening and shocking and disturbing".
"It's a terrible thing to happen in a theatre," he told the BBC News website.
Musicals star Elaine Paige said the audience at the Aldwych Theatre were "rocked and shocked" to learn what had happened around a mile away.
"It was a tragic and shocking thing to hear," said the actress and broadcaster. "Clearly there's been a tragedy over there tonight."
Her sentiments were echoed by theatre producer Robert Fox, who said it was "a very shocking thing to happen and incredibly sad"
"I just hope no-one has been killed and that people will be okay," he told the BBC.
Fellow producer Bill Kenwright said he was "shocked" by the news, while choreographer and former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips said the news was "shocking and surreal
My heart goes out to everyone involved," said comedian Jimmy Carr.
Nimax Theatres, the owners of the Shaftesbury Avenue theatre, described the incident there as "shocking and upsetting" and said an investigation was under way.
A spokesman for Lord Lloyd-Webber said he was preparing a statement. A representative from the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) said a statement would also be forthcoming.
The incident took place during a performance of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, an adaptation of the Mark Haddon novel that was originally presented at the National Theatre.
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