Theatre etiquette....

[CurlewKate]

I'm an old curmudgeon I accept that. But I went to a west end theatre for the first time since before the pandemic today, and the was amazed by the number of people coming in late, and going in and out during the performance. There were 3 phone calls before the interval! Was I just unlucky or has theatre etiquette changed?

I’ve seen two West End plays this week, including The Motive and The Cue. Audience behaviour was impeccable at both. Front of house staff made it very clear about what was expected as we went in. Bag searches, no alcohol, no food in theatre, phones off etc. Pre performance text reminders to arrive at least 30 mins before curtain up. Once the lights went down, the doors shut and that was it.If you left during the first part of the performance you weren’t allowed back in until the interval. Leave in the second half and you had to stay out.
Sorry you didn’t have the same experience we had.

More than once I've had to tap people on the shoulder before to tell them to shut up. Chatting away as if they were watching TV at home. They always look so surprised. But I feel like saying, I didn't spend £200 on tickets only to hear about your aunty Doreen's operation and whether your boss was being unfair.