Standing ovation in a theatre

It’s supposed to be for an exceptional performance. Our local theater always has it. I’ll only stand if I genuinely think it was amazing.

It’s definitely a thing these days and seems to be for all performances, not especially the best.

In my youth (30 years ago) the only standing ovation I remember is a young Kenneth Branagh in the Belfast Opera House to Shakespeare ( can’t remember which one). He definitely deserved it.

Or maybe it’s because many people can’t afford to go to the theatre much (or just don’t go much) and so when they do they really enjoy it, have a great time and want to express that.

It’s always been a thing when I’ve been, though I’m not a regular theatre goer.

I got a but confused by your talk of ‘smalls’ though. To me smalls=underwear. Do you mean your kids? Were you behind them at the theatre? Or was there a tall man in front of you? I can’t picture the scene?

Yeah every show has a standing location. I personally thought the singer in evita was a little shrill 😄 plus having lots of action right st the front of the stage ensured loots of people couldn't see what was going on.

Then everyone stood up gor the ovation and rushed out at speed even while the orchestra still played. Odd experience

I said you are not unreasonable but only because I go to the theatre a lot now and ovations appear to be standard now whether the performance deserved it or not. I’ve seen some really average productions that got ovations.

I think you are being unreasonable to conflict the issues here. The reasons you have given are why it didn’t work for you personally. I can’t stand at the end of a show so I just remain seated. I understand that others can and do though. As far as I’m aware it’s been going on for many years, I don’t see it as unusual in the slightest as a regular theatre goer.

💯 agree. Modern audiences seem to think it’s the done thing and give a standing ovation to every bloody performance, even a mediocre one. It has devalued the concept, which was people jumping to their feet to acclaim a truly outstanding performance.

2:22 is a very simple and not particularly challenging play, and has always gone for crowd-pleasing celebrity casts of former pop stars, minor soap actors and similar types with limited or no previous stage acting experience. Hence it attracts a certain audience who are not regular theatre goers, and are just hysterical at seeing a certain ‘celebrity’ on stage.

that's what i saw Standing at the Sky's Edge, well deserved the standing ovation

I like them (and also have mobility issues and tailbone pain so I sympathise).

I think it's now seen as clapping = you turned up and performed, well done. Standing ovation = and we liked it.

I have been to lots of shows in the last six months and I would say 50% had half the audience standing, 30% had no standing and 20% which were excellent had the whole audience up demanding more (even plays where there is no more!)

It has become more of a thing since Covid, but it is a way an audience can show genuine appreciation.

That combine with the trend that started with Six in allowing the audience to film the Megamix /final number /bows.

Sometimes it’s warranted; Operation Mincemeat, Benjamin Button, Standing at the Sky’s Edge.

It’s very common in the West End now. It has been for a number of years. I sympathise about your back. When going to the theatre with my husband I tend to book an end seat for him where possible, he has restless leg syndrome and is in pain by the end of the performance.

A standing ovation isn’t new! They may now be more common. Just stand up to see

I really don't understand the issue. Just stay sat on your seat?
I think it's nice for the cast, they're often underpaid and work long hours, seeing the joy of the audience can only make them feel better.

It’s a gesture of appreciation.

Regular theatregoer here. Yup, it seems to have become a thing over the last few years and not just in the West End - it happened at Nye at the National Theatre a few weeks ago. It really irritates me, especially since if you don't join in you can't actually see anything of the curtain call. It does however mean you are poised to make a speedy exit once the curtain call has finished...

It has been happening g for years. One of the pleasures of live performance is that the audience can show their appreciation. The mood of the audience can make a huge difference to the experience. An enthusiastic audience is always better which is why matinees sometimes seem a bit flat compared to evening performances. A few glasses of wine gets the crowd going.

Grant Stott gets this every year in Panto season 😂

“At the back of the smalls” 😂

They are "given" more often than they used to be.

You may/may not agree that the performance deserved a standing ovation, that's fine - don't stand then.

but you are very very unreasonable to expect everyone else around you to not give their standing ovation during applause because you've hurt your back.

It is a normal theatre thing, maybe they enjoyed it more than you? Don’t understand the pushing though if everyone has their own seat? It’s just one of those parts of the experience you can’t control like if someone really tall happens to sit in front of you.

yabu for using ‘smalls’ I genuinely thought you meant knickers the first time 😅 hope your back is better soon.

I love a standing ovation. As an audience and then as a theater maker too. Im sorry you were uncomfortable.

Do you mean during the performance? That is new and really annoying.

If at the end, it's been happening since I was a child and I'm over 50.

A lot of 'juke box' musicals encourage standing at the end as they start dancing and celebrating as they do the bows. They allow filming of the bows as well - so standing becomes the norm in those situations. I think it's a way to try to stop people trying to film the show covertly - as they know they can get their phones out and film at the end.
I stand at the end if I feel the performance warrants it - saw Evita in the West End a couple of weeks ago and the standing ovation went on for at least 5-6 minutes - but that was definitely deserved - the performances from all the cast were superb!