Food and drink in theatre

Of course you don't eat or drink during the performance. 90 minutes is only an hour and a half!

Does your child go to school? If so they will go longer than that without food every day.

Get something in the interval if you want.

I worked as an usher at the RSC in the 1980's and even then we waited until.a suitable break in the play to allow people back in.

Slurping and munching in the theatre is distracting to other audience members so its best not to take food in even if it's allowed if you have any basic manners.

Why people can't go 90 minutes without eating is beyond me really.

This exactly. It really annoyed me when teaching to have children drinking out of bottles of water (or even worse, squash) that sat on their desks, while I was teaching something important.

I went to one of those films in concert earlier this year at the Royal Albert Hall that was at 2pm in the afternoon. We arrived 5 mins late because of train issues and we weren’t allowed in until a suitable gap. And we had aisle seats. We had to wait about 15 mins until they’d let us in. I didn’t complain though obviously as it states the rules. We were late so that’s it. Not their problem.

The Royal Opera House doesn't let you back in. I don't think the small London theatres like the Wyndham do.

We used to go several hours without drinking anything at school in the 70s. Nobody thought anything of it.

I'm sure the audience can cope with a child asking to use a toilet

It's a bit different when an irresponsible parent is giving them water, knowing that this will very likely be the outcome though.

The audience coped with my husband having a nosebleed once, but I didn't punch him on it.

I've always got a bottle of water in my handbag and any theatre or gig I've been to has always let me in with it after the bag search.

It more likely means that you can't take teas and coffees or drinks bought at the bar through, and eating can be noisy and distracting.

Don't know where you are going to but Birmingham Hippodrome does let you take drinks and ice creams into the auditorium.

I've never forgotten or forgiven the stupid woman sat next to me at The Lion King in Manchester who noisily ate her Graze snacks. She had the audacity to look at me like I'd shat on her shoes when I looked at her because she was affecting my enjoyment of a show I'd paid a lot to see.

Also going back years now at Mamma Mia in Blackpool, the woman behind us with the kids who did not shut up the whole performance. Awful behaviour.

Theatre and show visits are so expensive that I want to enjoy a professional performance without people eating and drinking, going in and out to the toilet, children whining and talking who are far too young to be there and singing along.
Grrrrrrr! Surely basic manners is not too much to ask?

This sums up society right now.

The rules say one thing but each person believes they are exceptional and the rules don’t apply to them.

You've been told no food or drinks, and your response is to take food and drinks?

Just do as they have asked.

Most theatres I know of allow drinks and snacks in the auditorium? It seems a bit harsh. They might say no outside food but you can buy it at the bar. I'm sure they can't moan about water, if you buy it off them. You could tell a white lie and say it's for medication. But I wouldn't be happy going somewhere that strict!

I have had to stop going to the theatre for this reason, I experienced my ‘last straw’ at a ballet a few years ago. It was my favourite, Romeo and Juliet. There was a loud woman who became aggressive when asked to stop talking. The ballet was completely ruined for me.

Anybody old enough to attend a public performance should be able to last 90 minutes without shoving something into their gob. No wonder there's an obesity crisis.

I've had my bag searched at every professional theatre I've ever been at, London and regional. I've actually been detector wanded at a couple 🤷. Stupid and/or intentionally disruptive behaviour means it's needed.

No. The Manchester bombing is why it is needed. Not to deter Maureen from bringing in a packet of minstrels.

This thread is genuinely one of the most batshit ones I've ever read.

I don't think your 6 year old sounds old enough to cope with this. Six is very young to go to an evening performance of a ballet. Does she realise she must sit still and be absolutely silent. That's what matinées are for.

thats not true, The savoy doesnt allow you back in, nor does the Donmar warehouse, signs inside the loos that say you will not be allowed back in. In fact Macbeth (cant remember where it a moved to ) had to stop the performance because a man insisted on trying to get back in after going to the loo despite signs everywhere saying you cant.

https://www.scotsman.com/news/david-tennant-pulled-off-stage-after-west-end-furore-over-toilet-break-4907116

edited to say.
even if they do let you back in, it is not until a suitable break in the procedings.

Unless there's a medical reason I'm sure your child can last 90 minutes without a snack or drink of water. People eating and drinking at the theatre'shows is a big bugbear of mine - why do they need to do it?

I'm old fashioned (there were no such things in my day) but I don't get the obsession for kids to always have a water bottle with them. None of my friends did and we survived.,

The theatre will give you tap water but I highly doubt they will have any problem with a child having a bottle of juice

People can go 90 minutes without food - obviously. In my glorious rule, all eating in the theatre will be banned - it's a vile habit.
All theatres and performances are different, OP - just check the rules for the production before you go in. This is an opportunity for your child to learn some basic etiquette as a "grown up girl".

And - everyone - please think of the theatre staff and volunteers who have to clear up after you - Christmas shows always have huge amounts of litter, sadly.

This. I went to see Wicked last night in Manchester at £100 a ticket. Parts were completely spoiled by the never ending rustle of sweet wrappers and crunch of popcorn, plus the endless stream of people getting up for the loo (and banging the doors each time).

If a six year old can't go 90 minutes without a snack/drink/wee then perhaps consider whether they're old enough for the ballet. I've taken my kids everywhere but unless it was a specific, abridged children's ballet performance (and I did take them to those too) mine would have struggled with a full length ballet.

Unless you or your d's have a medical reason like diabetes then If she can't sit through a show without eating or drinking them maybe she is a bit young to go to the ballet yet. My 10 year old has autism and we didn't take him to the cinema until he was 8 and could sit through the film without disturbing other people. We are hoping to take him to the local college and secondary school live performances for the first time this year.

I despair - unless you have a medical issue, you can last 90 minutes without food and drink!

Also let's be realistic here: in 2024 there are audience members threatening to punch front of house staff, having to be removed for drunken behaviour, shouting and swearing and singing when they shouldn't, a child sucking a sweet or taking a sip of water is the least thing to be distracting for cast, front of house, and the audience.