to think people's manners go out of the window in the theatre?

[DonkeyHohtay]

We went to the theatre last night to see a very popular, mainstream musical. Lots of people of all ages in the theatre, many children. Few points of observation.

That wee bell which they ring as a 5 minutes warning, and then again as a 1 minute warning. It applies to you too. It means get your arse to your seat as the show is about to start.

When they say no photos and no phones, that applies to you too. Shining bright phone screen light around while you check instagram is downright rude.

If you have a teenage son who really doesn't want to be there, leave him at home. Don't allow him to spoil the show for the smaller children behind him with his constant fidgeting, watch-checking, listening to music on his phone and asking his mum how long to the interval.

Also downright rude is pushing your way through a row 5 minutes before the show finishes to be out first. The rest of us do want to see the final minutes, and to applaud the cast for a job well done. How crap must it be to be on stage and see streams of people walking out while you're taking your bow.

And please don't talk during the performance you dick.

YANBU they are all rude twats.

Same with people unwrapping food. All of it is so rude.
As a performer, I can see your phone light up and I can hear you talk. So distracting and inconsiderate.

As it was a family type musical thingy I didn't mind the odd squeak of "There's my favourite character!" from a child. You kind of expect it in those situations.

But yes, the "leave before the end" brigade and their "Have you got the car park ticket Sandra?" "I thought I put it with the water bottle Janet" can sod right off.

And if you’re also an actress, please don’t loudly critique the performance of every cast member for the entire duration of the show. I really did have to endure this on a recent visit to the theatre. She was two rows behind and I could hear every word. Would anyone care to guess the extent off this very opinionated lady’s experience? Was she an Oscar winner, a beloved national treasure, even a bit part actor from Hollyoaks?

None of these reader: she had recently joined an AmDram club in Worthing.

In my experience, people who troop to London to see a big musical, or catch it on tour, aren’t often regular theatregoers, and don’t know how to behave, and sing along, talk, eat loudly, or leave noisily early, as at a football match.

At least, I’ve seen much worse behaviour at Wicked and the RSC Matilda on tour than I have ever in years of going to plays at the NT or the Barbican.apart from Benedict Cumberbatch’s Hamlet and the Frankenstein that alternated BC and Jonny Lee Miller in the leads — again, because they attracted fans who weren’t used to going to plays.

People like that don't have any manners to start with.

I think there are a lot of people who only go to the theatre to see pantos or the big musicals. They don’t understand theatre etiquette.
We actually came back from the interval to find the people behind us (who had talked all the way through the first half) had moved and sat in our seats! And refused to move back. This was only at an amateur show, but still I was totally

aren’t often regular theatregoers, and don’t know how to behave, and sing along, talk, eat loudly, or leave noisily early, as at a football match

I wouldn't say we as a family were regular theatre goers either. Two or three times a year tops.

But that's no excuse for not having basic manners. And ensuring children behave themselves.