To think its rude

Reallyneedsaholiday · 2024-04-20T20:33:25+00:00

Being late to a theatre/ ballet/ opera and disturbing everyone during the performance so you can find your seat? I'd also count the cinema and a myriad of other events. Don't you make sure that you're on time, and if by some chance you can't avoid being late, wouldn't you stand at the back until an interval? People who stay in the bar until start, and then disrupt everyone, climbing over them to their seats, clutching half drunk drinks drive me nuts. So AIBU?

Original poster

Reallyneedsaholiday · 21/04/2024 21:28

huuskymam · 21/04/2024 21:27

My son works in a theatre that does musicals, ballet, comedy shows. You don't get in if you're late and must wait till the interval. It has happened a few times and people have thrown a strop about it, but there's no bending the rule for anyone, thankfully.

Imo that’s how it SHOULD be

OP posts:

huuskymam · 21/04/2024 21:27

My son works in a theatre that does musicals, ballet, comedy shows. You don't get in if you're late and must wait till the interval. It has happened a few times and people have thrown a strop about it, but there's no bending the rule for anyone, thankfully.

MereDintofPandiculation · 21/04/2024 21:25

SocksAndTheCity · 21/04/2024 21:02

Yes, I rarely have diffficulty understanding things.

But when I say 'irritate' I'm talking about a split second of brief annoyance; I can't imagine getting any more worked up about it than that as it would affect the rest of my evening and tbh, I'm generally thankful that I have the time and money to be there at all.

As I said, some things can't be helped, and the universe doesn't revolve around me.

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Being late maybe can't be helped. walking in front of a row of people in the middle of a performance can be.

Original poster

Reallyneedsaholiday · 21/04/2024 21:22

Didimum · 21/04/2024 19:00

You asked opinions, did you not? Did you expect them all to align with yours?

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Not at all. I just wish that I didn’t find people standing in front of me, and moving around during emotive scenes on the stage, blocking my view a distraction, but I do.

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SocksAndTheCity · 21/04/2024 21:02

MereDintofPandiculation · 21/04/2024 20:40

SO if it would irritate you during ballet, maybe you can understand that it's irritating to other people during live music?

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Yes, I rarely have diffficulty understanding things.

But when I say 'irritate' I'm talking about a split second of brief annoyance; I can't imagine getting any more worked up about it than that as it would affect the rest of my evening and tbh, I'm generally thankful that I have the time and money to be there at all.

As I said, some things can't be helped, and the universe doesn't revolve around me.

MereDintofPandiculation · 21/04/2024 20:40

SocksAndTheCity · 21/04/2024 13:02

Well I was talking about the cinema; I don't go to the theatre and whilst I like to go and see live music, provided I can hear it I can cope with missing seeing the conductor wave his arms a couple of times.

It would irritate me during a ballet, but I'd not expect to be allowed in if a performance had started. Even then I can accept that the universe doesn't revolve around me, and I'd still rather people quickly got to their seats and sat down than they talked throughout or used their phones but arrived on time. Not that these should be the options, obviously

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SO if it would irritate you during ballet, maybe you can understand that it's irritating to other people during live music?

XenoBitch · 21/04/2024 19:03

I was late for a performance this year. My train was cancelled, and the two subsequent ones that turned up were like tins of sardines. The doors were literally holding people in.
I was 10 minutes late (no interval, so could not wait for that). And that was turning up to the train station 30 mins before our scheduled train anyway.

Didimum · 21/04/2024 19:00

Reallyneedsaholiday · 21/04/2024 18:31

Lucky you then 😂

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You asked opinions, did you not? Did you expect them all to align with yours?

Original poster

Reallyneedsaholiday · 21/04/2024 18:33

MinervaMcGonagallsCat · 21/04/2024 12:32

Theatres usuamake latecomers wait until an appropriate moment to take their seats

I wish they all did

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Original poster

Reallyneedsaholiday · 21/04/2024 18:31

Didimum · 21/04/2024 12:14

It’s a minor inconvenience. I can’t get worked up about it at all and it’s never memorably ruined any theatre or cinema trip for me.

Lucky you then 😂

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Misthios · 21/04/2024 13:05

I have been to performances where latecomers have had to wait until the next natural break in the performance. Quite right too.

Also had the pleasure of being in the audience at a Billy Connolly gig circa 1995 in Hammersmith where someone with seats in the second row of the stalls had the temerity to turn up 20 minutes late. It was very funny for the rest of us, not so much for him.

bradpittsbathwater · 21/04/2024 13:04

I'm always early but I couldn't get worked up about this

SocksAndTheCity · 21/04/2024 13:02

MereDintofPandiculation · 21/04/2024 12:48

During which time you've missed a key it of music, an important section of dialogue, your mood has been shattered ...

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Well I was talking about the cinema; I don't go to the theatre and whilst I like to go and see live music, provided I can hear it I can cope with missing seeing the conductor wave his arms a couple of times.

It would irritate me during a ballet, but I'd not expect to be allowed in if a performance had started. Even then I can accept that the universe doesn't revolve around me, and I'd still rather people quickly got to their seats and sat down than they talked throughout or used their phones but arrived on time. Not that these should be the options, obviously

MereDintofPandiculation · 21/04/2024 12:48

SocksAndTheCity · 20/04/2024 21:39

I've done this once or twice when I've been stuck on the tube but not many times (and I was mortified). You can't know somebody's reason for being late.

If somebody is disturbing everyone just getting from the aisle to their seat though then TABU; moving briskly down the row apologising along the way and sitting down immediately, without faffing with coats and so on, takes seconds.

During which time you've missed a key it of music, an important section of dialogue, your mood has been shattered ...

MereDintofPandiculation · 21/04/2024 12:46

Arrestedmanevolence · 20/04/2024 21:38

Im always early but if I was late because of horrendous traffic or something I wouldn't stand at the back, no because I've paid for my ticket. In fact it's probably not allowed due to fire regs.

Do they let you in? At one time, if you were late to theatre, opera or classical music concert, you wouldn't be allowed in until an interval.

HeddaGarbled · 21/04/2024 12:45

How did you manage to watch the whole of the first half of you were late

Pedantic 😃

OK, the first half minus the 10 minutes or so I was late.

Funkyslippers · 21/04/2024 12:43

HeddaGarbled · 21/04/2024 00:22

I’ve never been to any theatre where they let people in before the interval if they’re late. I recently watched the entire first half of Midsummer’s Night Dream on the screen in the bar because my train was cancelled. At least I could have a glass of wine while I was watching.

If the theatres you use don’t adopt this standard policy, I’d take it up with them.

How did you manage to watch the whole of the first half of you were late?

MinervaMcGonagallsCat · 21/04/2024 12:32

Theatres usuamake latecomers wait until an appropriate moment to take their seats

UsherPusher · 21/04/2024 12:25

Sometimes you just can't help being late...

Ever seen the film Clockwise?

I'd rather we could be understanding and compassionate and do the best we can to seat them than make them miss out when they might already be quite stressed and upset because of delays...

I work in the theatre. I still ended up 15 minutes late for a show because, despite leaving in plenty of time, there was a series of events beyond my control which delayed me.

Didimum · 21/04/2024 12:14

It’s a minor inconvenience. I can’t get worked up about it at all and it’s never memorably ruined any theatre or cinema trip for me.

the80sweregreat · 21/04/2024 11:59

No, it's not about aging or becoming more grumpy , even my 20 something son moans about public transport and people being rude to the staff and the lack of manners everywhere ( which cost nothing )
I was brought up to think of others and say please and thank you and so on , but it's just gone down hill with people's attitudes to just about everything!

Applescruffle · 21/04/2024 11:55

the80sweregreat · 21/04/2024 11:44

People are just rude and entitled and it's become worse.

I think I'll make a thread on this. Has it become worse or am I just getting older and grumpier?

AgnesX · 21/04/2024 11:47

Arrestedmanevolence · 20/04/2024 21:38

Im always early but if I was late because of horrendous traffic or something I wouldn't stand at the back, no because I've paid for my ticket. In fact it's probably not allowed due to fire regs.

If you're late that's too bad. They shouldn't let you in.

Everyone else that you're disturbing has also paid for their tickets.

the80sweregreat · 21/04/2024 11:44

People are just rude and entitled and it's become worse.

BIossomtoes · 21/04/2024 11:21

Reallyneedsaholiday · 21/04/2024 00:03

Nothing to stop people standing at the back.

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I don’t think you’re allowed into the auditorium once the performance has begun in most theatres. The cinema’s different.