To be annoyed at disruption in a theatre show?

A few years ago at an evening performance at The Savoy Theatre the first half was disrupted continuously by two women who obviously had special needs. They were in wheelchairs and seated in a special area with their two carers - it wasn't a 'Relaxed' performance. Post interval both of them were asleep so no further disruptions

To their great credit the performers carried on regardless!

At the interval I witnessed many people making complaints to staff who, again to their credit were sympathetic but said there was nothing they could do

Some weeks later we received complimentary tickets to another performance, via the social club that we had booked with

I live in London and had cheap tickets so it was no big deal for me and my friend but for many people it would have been a special occasion and cost a lot of money

It might seem harsh but I do think the two women should have been taken to a Relaxed performance so as not to spoil the event for the other 99% of the audience

Which I have said: and the theatre are not asking a disabled person to leave because they are disabled

Can you answer my question?

@WillThingsEverBeFergaliciousAgain you'd better tell the National Autism Society their advice to theatres is legally incorrect then.

https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/going-out-leisure-and-travel/going-to-the-theatre/theatres

🤣 I despair with you

To be practical for a second, some theatres are better than others at holding relaxed performances. IME The Kiln (Kilburn) has some great shows and always seems to have a relaxed performance for each show. Similarly the Old and New Vics are good and have some great performances. The National Theatre has great provision for the physically disabled and provision for the hard of hearing (signing and the really innovative caption glasses). Relaxed performances are shown as something that the NT do, but I cannot see any on the current calendar. Most big West End shows do not offer relaxed performances, or if they do they are fairly few and far between. At this time of year I also find Open Air theatres quite useful. I can manage noise so long as we sit at the back and have a clear exit.

You think we have said the same thing and I'm the one with reading issues?

Sure.

That's a really good point. The actors in the theatre get paid whatever goes on in the audience (although their concentration and patience might well be tested to the limit), but professional tennis players....if their concentration is affected by noisy people, and Wimbledon allowed it, that's a serious matter for them.

Jeez - the people on here who think that the rights of someone who can't be quiet trump absolutely EVERYTHING else. I just despair.

The irony is that it won't be disabled person themselves who insists on attending the theatre in the face of so many people's spoiled experience - it will be some 'activist' determined to prove a point.

I am a person with a disability who caused more than her fair share of disruption in public spaces as a child and was always removed from them by my family. For me that's the correct thing to do and so in that situation I'd have been looking at the people accompanying this individual and wondering what they were doing. For all they knew someone in the crowd was going to react with violence or aggression, would not have been in the person's best interests whatsoever. And that would be unusual but not unprecedented, I have heard of fights breaking out before in theatres over disruptive behaviour.

I really do think you have a reading issue because we have both essentially said the same thing.

How is it reasonable to have one person shouting out continuously throughout a performance and thereby disrupting it for everyone else? That’s unreasonable.

You can shout about my comprehension all you like, but you're the one who doesn't have a grasp of the law in this respect.

A private venue can remove someone whose behaviour prevents it from providing its service (which it didnt) even if the behaviour results from a disability. But it's not as simple as 'it's a private venue, so it can remove anyone.' The Equality Act 2010 still applies, so the venue must avoid disability discrimination and consider reasonable adjustments. Whether removal is lawful depends on the circumstances, it would be interesting to see it played out in court, but you're very much overstating the rights private venues have.

An adjustment has to be reasonable. if having them there is causing too much issues just remove them

What do you class as a reasonable adjustment?

Should've just been removed tbf.

yes they do, and if their reasonable adjustments are impossible OR do not work then they can legally remove that person.

I don’t think I can accept that until we’ve really tried OP and that’s a sweeping statement when accessibility is dreadfully limited. Have all measures been tried? Doubt they have

It’s also the law that they have to provide reasonable adjustment for disabled people - or did you forget that bit ?

Yet again you have failed to read and understand properly. Your lack of comprehension skills is outstanding.

Under UK law a private venue does not have to permit behaviour which prevents the service they are providing to others being done in the intended way. That includes removing those with disabilities if their behaviour is disruptive.

I understand you do not like it but that is the law.

A private venue can't make decisions that aren't lawful.

It wouldn't be lawful to remove someone on the grounds of disability, unless in very extreme circumstances (even then it woukd be a grey area that would be interesting to see played out in court), which this wasn't as the event still continued.

I remember that, too.

I also remember a thread some time ago where the OP’s child (and others in their class) were being touched inappropriately (to put it mildly) by another boy in their class due to a disability he had. There were many posters on there saying that if parents were concerned about their children being touched inappropriately that way, that they should remove their children from that school and send them elsewhere.

A disabled person who has bladder and bowel problems wouldn’t think of leaving the house without adequate protection - both for their own peace of mind and that of others. Terrible analogy.

God, what a depressing read

it might encourage them to put on more relaxed performances? that would be a win, right?

This reminds me of the man with Tourette’s who shouted the - n word at the black men who had just got an award.

Loads of ppl said it was tough, but I always felt sorry for those men and those at home watching who were unexpectedly exposed to that horrible term.

The private venue has the right to decide what does and doesn’t constitute a disruption to their service. If they deem shouting and bad behaviour to be that then they can legally remove whomever they wish from their premises. That is the law.