Unsuitable for children?

[theatregal]

NC for this as don't want it linked to other posts but long term lurker.

Just wanted a bit of a vent really. Went to see To Kill a Mockingbird recently. Slightly miffed that Rafe Spall wasn't in, but understudy fine. However.....

Our seats were second row of the circle, and right in front of us were two children (7&9 ish) with their mother (guessing but most likely). They fidgeted, stood up/sat down, played with their phone, and loud-whispered all the way through the first act. Every time a sweary word was used, the girl jumped up! It was so distracting that we ended up leaving at the interval because we couldn't stand it any longer. Others near us managed to move but we weren't so lucky. We'd been looking forward to it for ages, and it was a big treat, but that's life I guess. I couldn't put on my big girl pants and say something to her (didn't think there was much she could do, other than leave, and I felt a bit sorry for her if I'm honest).

I just wonder why, if the play is listed as unsuitable for under 12s (and the guidance was clear on explicit sexual abuse references, bad language, etc), someone would think it's a good idea? Should the theatre have intervened? Not sure....Would love to hear others' views.

The theatre probably weren't aware. Did you say anything to either the children or the theatre?

You should have complained to the management. Got them to have a word. Either control the kids or leave

Email the theatre. I complained at Vue and got free tickets.

A couple brought 3 dc to a PG film and the dm mostly stood up mid row the entire film shusshing a very tiny baby.

I also would have complained. The kids were too young but that aside the parent should have been telling them to sit still and be quiet or have taken them out.

That's a completely inappropriate play to take a 7 and 9 year old too. The parent was ridiculous to bring them. For that reason, I think you would have been within your rights to say something to either the parent or the theatre management.

How would they not be aware? Surely they checked the tickets on the way in and saw the children?

But it's guidance
It's not like a cinema where you're not allowed to take underage people in.
But yes if they were stopping other people enjoy the play then I'm sure the theatre would have had a word if they'd have had aware

Why on earth would anyone take young children to see that play??? Totally inappropriate.
Im afraid I would have had a quiet word with one of the staff or with the parent.

By walking out, you have lost the potential for the theatre to try and sort the problem. I think you should have spoken to someone - probably the theatre staff rather than the mother - before walking out completely.
The mother was unreasonable tho.

We did speak to the ushers in the interval, but they'd moved a few people already so no other spare seats. By that time we'd missed so much already hence leaving. The mother had taken one of them to the loo, so not there for ushers to speak to. I didn't want to enter into 'shush' territory as it might have made things worse, and I'm not v confrontational. Might need to work on that but it's always easier with hindsight.

I was sent a feedback form which I filled out. And when we left, the staff were lovely but obviously hard to do anything once the performance had started. Would have been better if they'd questioned the family before the start? The children definitely looked young.

Thanks for your responses.