Police called to theatre after audience sang over cast

[SnottyLottie]

According to this news article, 2 people were evicted by security and there was a “mini riot” after the show was stopped 10 minutes before the end (and ultimately cancelled) because a handful of the audience were singing over the cast. Police were called (riot vans included).

https://news.sky.com/story/police-called-to-disturbance-at-manchester-palace-theatre-during-the-bodyguard-musical-after-audience-tried-to-sing-over-cast-12852504

What do we think? Over reaction or perfectly reasonable response? I’d be furious to have the show stopped and cancelled 10 minutes before the end because of a handful of disrespectful idiots!

A tribute band is a concert so singing along is to be expected - a musical is a play that includes songs as well as dialogue, two different genres with different expectations, IMO.

I know it's different, but is it really ok to sing along at a concert? Most people buy tickets because they want to hear the band, not hundreds of zero talent nobodies squawking along.
A tribute band would be different, I suppose.

Some people just seem to think that the signs and rules don't apply to them.

I went to a music show at a local theatre a couple of weeks ago. At every entrance there were large signs clearly stating that videoing and photography were not allowed. There were also signs all along the front ledge of the circle stating that nothing should be placed on the ledge.

I saw one woman get told off twice by the usher firstly for placing her programme on the ledge and secondly for taking photos on her phone. I also witnessed at least 8 other people taking videos on their phones in the stalls (clear view of them from the circle and the light on the screens makes it obvious). I mean why? Just why?

There does seem to be a lower class of person attending the theatre nowadays.
Time to increase the entry prices.

I went to this performamce yesterday (day after it kicked off). Yes,there were signs (polite ) saying please do not sing etc. But... it was quite a serious performance, yeh a few whitney songs thrown in , but still. The performance was fantastic , the staff were really polite and people were respectful. We werent being watched like hawks like a news article suggested. At the end people give the actors standing ovations and we were treated to a whitney classic. ALL the audience were up dancing ,it was brilliant.
Im not like an avid theatre goer as such, but having been there yesterday i totally get the no singing thing.

I only go to the theatre maybe once a year but know how to behave, it’s nothing to do with not being used to it. It’s just basic manners.

It’s alcohol I think. People can’t seem to do anything or enjoy anything without being pissed up. We were at a charity comedy show last month and it was ruined by people smashed and heckling the performers - not just a bit of banter - just really unfunny pissed heckling. They did actually get kicked out in the end.

It does my head in to be honest.

We were at a popular family waterpark two weeks ago and people were drunk. What the fuck is that all about? I can’t bear it.

@Riapia - I think that is an unfair comment. My young daughter and I love going to the thetare. If the prices were increased, that certainly wouldn't happen. Why should people miss out for the sake of a few idiots who dont know how to behave.
Personally having been at the same performance yesterday, it sounded like the situation from friday was dealt with effectively , which led to a very calm and enjoyable experience for us .

I actually thought she was being sarcastic to be honest - I hope so anyway!!

@Abouttimemum . Im the same as you. People just get carried away.
For instance, at the performance last night a guy on our row bought two bottles of cider in the interval to take back to his seat. Wtf.

Venues encourage it by pushing alcohol sales. It's depressing. And must be really tough for anyone who struggles with alcohol and is trying to avoid it.

Agree but I don't know the answer! :-( Britain is awful for this I have to say. I don't want to always slag us off a nation, but I see when I go to Europe (DH is European) I see how bad things are here now. In the UK my kids are seen as amazingly well behaved; in DH's country they seem quite feral! But that's a discussion for another thread.

@MMMarmite . Totally agree with this. We went as a birthday treat so my sister and I said we would get a glass of champagne. £25 for a small bottle (glass). Needless to say we didnt partake! They are not gonna give that up are they comsidering the mark up they are earning on the booze alone!

I was at a musical in Edinburgh a while back and it had to be stopped because a couple decided to kick off when they were told to stop talking and singing - the male half of the couple assaulted the security staff and I saw in the paper he is being charged. It was awful to watch - but more than that, what goes through the heads of people who decide to spend a lot of money of tickets and then make so much noise throughout so they can’t actually hear the professionals speak and sing?

Maybe they should treat bad behaviour at the theatre the same as hooliganism at football matches and jail people for it and ban them from all theatres for several years/life for violent or repeat offenders.

I think that any film based or juke box musical is going to attract people who want to sing along. It's only fair to everyone to set standards and make them very clear to everyone so you have a choice.
I would never go and see The Bodyguard again - there was barely any attempt at a plot, and it was just full of hen do type parties waiting to wail along to The Song. West End version too.
I have no interest in going to see Pretty Woman, DD etc - Six was bad enough with all the fans on their nth trip back mouthing along and pre-empting the lines.

For quite a while I’ve been put off going to the theatre because of such appalling behaviour. On one occasion we moved seats three times to avoid the groups of goons obstructing our view, out singing the performers and videoing their outlandish behaviour. Effectively the paid performers were used as their backing group. The experience was like being in a bear pit.
I hope the response in Manchester is followed.

Good! It might be 'overkill' but about time this was taken seriously. People are so disrespectful and trashy. Raise the ticket prices, or do ad campaigns about how to act appropriately when going to the theatre.

I do agree that behaviour is becoming worse. We go to the theatre regularly and more often than not there is at least some disruption to the performance. Yesterday we went to see a play. There were a couple of woman across the aisle from me and two rows back (so a decent distance away) who could not stop discussing every aspect of it as if they were at home - "oh look at his face", "oh what has she been in again?" and really loudly overreacting to everything - laughing too loudly, snorting etc. I felt really sorry for the people who were right beside them because they must have heard a running commentary all the way through.
A few backs we went to see a musical and a child behind me loudly sang through most of the songs and kept telling her parents that this song/character was the reason they were there/her favourite bit. They'd been given tickets as a Xmas present (we were all made aware of this through the chatter). Then they dropped something and watched it roll all the way down the middle aisle before bouncing off the stage. At no point during any of the chatter, singing or dropping stuff down the aisle did the parents (or other family members) tell this child to shut up and let the rest of enjoy the show! They seemed to be enjoying the fact their little darling was enjoying their Xmas present and proud she knew all the words, when the rest of us would just have liked to hear the actual performers!!

For the past 20 years people talking loudly and singing and shouting at music concerts has steadily increased. It ruins the event for people who are trying to listen and it has put me off going. Lord only knows what the artists make of it but I think it’s very bad manners and selfish. Why bother to spend £££ on tickets etc if you’re going to sing loudly and talk as if you are in a pub or nightclub. Crazy.

Alison Hammond has 'apologised' on twitter.. bit late tbh

One of my sons loves musicals. We try to go a few times a year. We don’t dress up, but we do behave. Currently planning a trip to see a couple of shows in London, so it will be improperly dressed northerners not singing along. The boy may do a little bit of head bobbing if a number is very catchy, sorry!

Do people go to Shakespeare plays and shout out the lines? Or to the opera and start singing along? Or do the ballet and start trying to do ballet dancing in the aisles?

There were signs up before and during the show, based on numerous articles and tweets.

The videos of the singing is appalling and apparently happened throughout, getting worse the drunker the women got.

Also via videos posted - when asked to leave the women became increasingly aggressive, not only with officials but also other audience members.

Not really.

The audience should follow the rules of the show.

Generally speaking a pop/rock concert you are encouraged to sing a long to the songs.

The cinema you don't sing to unless it's a specific song a long version.

A musical theatre show you are not supposed to sing, unless it is a specific sing a king version or you're encouraged to for a specific song.

I never go to musicals and this is one reason why. Hardly ever go to the cinema either due to noisy eating, rustling paper, chatting and phones ringing. Prefer my local small hall where recent films and plays are beamed in. No-one messes about because we know who we are and have manners.