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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My DH and I are tall and dared to go to the theatre.

411 replies

MangoSeason · 08/04/2021 08:48

I’m 6 ft 1. My DH is 6 ft 4 and very broad. We went to see Hamilton at the Sydney Lyric Theatre yesterday and were subjected to a tirade of passive aggressive invective by the lady sitting behind us, for the whole show. The Lyric Theatre has very roomy seating, but a very low incline. This is beyond our control. We were not trying to thwart the woman! We were very close to the stage and everyone has to look up here anyway. I don’t think she missed as much as she wanted to make everyone around you believe. The lady behind me offered to swap with her but she loudly announced that “she is just as bad”. Sorry for my tall self exiting in your world.

I mean I do get it. It would be frustrating to be seated behind a couple like us. However, I’ve been at shows that I have looked forward to for years and have dealt with unexpected issues- the man with the very loud vocal tics two seats down, the lady who had to go to the toilet 6 times in a show. It is frustrating but I don’t carry on like a pork chop and I certainly don’t direct any invective towards the person for issues beyond their control. I may privately sigh or have a whinge afterwards but that’s it. DH and I can’t shrink!

We are both used to the under breath FFSs when we sit at shows. We really try to avoid sitting in front of people if we can. But at a sold out show with allocated seating, we are not doing it to upset you. We weren’t wearing hats, wearing scarves or big collars or high hair styles. We were simply existing, sitting quietly within our allocated seats. It was a matinee show with dozens of pre-teen kids around us. They would have had the same issue as the woman and none of them were carrying on at all. They were just enthralled, like everyone else.

Fully prepared to be massacred by the shorter people now!

OP posts:
Toomuchtrouble4me · 09/04/2021 17:43

My BiL is 6’4, as they live in Canada they always book a London show when they come to stay with us, every other year. As long as I’ve known him he has always booked the aisle seat so that the person behind him can at least see around one side.
Theatre tickets are so expensive, I’d be pissed off too, esp as your DH is tall and broad. I’d know there’s nothing he could do about his height but perhaps you should book aisle seats too? Of course you don’t have to but it would be courteous to do so.

I8toys · 09/04/2021 17:44

This is why I try and book at the front or on the end of rows where possible and if busy we book two in front and then two behind - just so the kids could see over us. We all have to mitigate our comfort in these tiny theatres.

I remember two large people sitting next to each other beside me. It was a knock on effect. The partner overflowed onto her partners seat and then onto me. It was really uncomfortable. I don't know why they didn't book end seats and then they could at least spread out over the end of the seat instead of onto those around them.

fizbosshoes · 09/04/2021 17:47

I’ve been known to climb shelves in the past.

I look for the little flower pot type stools that sometimes shop assistants use. I'm sure its against health and safety for customers to use them but I've never come to any harm! I also climb on shelves or loiter/hover waiting for conveniently placed tall people to assist! Grin
However several times I have come home without all my desired items, because it was out of reach, none of the above options were available!

bossyrossy · 09/04/2021 17:48

Theatre tickets have to be booked but not usually the local cinema where I find putting my coat over the seat in front usually puts off anyone sitting in front of me. There are usually plenty of empty seats in our cinema and of course I would move my coat if anyone asked me to.

EmbarrassingMama · 09/04/2021 17:51

There's no excuse for rudeness but, at 5 foot, if I were sitting behind you and the seats were that crappy my night would be ruined.

Mainly YABU for telling us about a night out.

TwoTinyCrafters · 09/04/2021 17:53

I am 4ft11 and would never behave like this. It is upsetting when you can't see things as a short person, but that is not the fault of taller people around. I often pick seats at the front for this very reason! So sorry you had to deal with that. I am very jealous of your height though. 😁

Tessabelle74 · 09/04/2021 17:54

You can buy inflatable booster cushions, invest in one the next time you can turn, smile sweetly and hand it over Wink

Kaykay247 · 09/04/2021 17:54

Can we have the same for airplane seats in that case!! Too many shorties get the legroom seats

Tooshytoshine · 09/04/2021 17:56

The shorter woman was rude, if she had an issue with her seats then she should have complained to the theatre not the tall person, who can't just evaporate or somehow become shorter.

And btw I'm a total short arse...

SpringTimeDream · 09/04/2021 18:00

I do hate sitting behind tall people since it does spoil the show. When a ticket is expensive and only part of the stage can be seen ...? It's a shame that tall people cannot be seated somewhere else (outside...only joking, end of rows or back seats since they can see over the heads of others)... it must be annoying to listen to her constant complaining though. Hats are also annoying.

LipstickLou · 09/04/2021 18:00

5'10'' and 6'5''. We sink into the seats if people are struggling. Just be nice!

abricotine · 09/04/2021 18:04

I’m short. It is annoying but them’s the breaks right?! I would never complain like that. What is way more annoying (from a seasoned theatregoer) are people who flop their heads from side to side constantly so I have to keep doing the same to find a new sight line! Or sit forward in the seat eg up in the circle. That’s inconsiderate. But merely being tall, it’s hardly your fault!

winniestone37 · 09/04/2021 18:05

Hmm obviously she was ridiculous but I understand why she was cross but it’s no one else’s problem but hers really. The idea that tall people should go at the back is also ridiculous. This is life! I’m 5 foot 8 and If a tall man is in front of me I can struggle. If a short women is behind me she can struggle 🤷‍♀️I’m hard of hearing and certainly not going at the back.

fizbosshoes · 09/04/2021 18:08

As a shortie who encounters short-arse problems on a daily basis, it's interesting to hear the other side of the coin. Obviously I had thought about plane travel and not having any leg room in the back of a car, but hadnt realised it was a problem in theatres. (I very seldom go to the theatre)

I hope all the average sized posters are grateful to be a "standard" size!Wink

LST · 09/04/2021 18:11

I cannot believe people are so entitled they think people who just so happen to be born taller than them should sit at the back or at the side of theatres. Jesus christ

Coolwaterscoolcool · 09/04/2021 18:17

In my experience a vertically challenged person may wish to consider paying more to sit closer to the front so they can see. You can’t do anything about being tall, they could however stop being a total numpty!

Fembot123 · 09/04/2021 18:22

I quite like being short usually which is handy 😋 The most annoying thing I’ve seen is the woman in front of me filming the whole play on an iPad so we had to watch it through that.

Lucyk1 · 09/04/2021 18:23

Knowing this is an issue, you could have tried booking seats at the back where no one is behind you.
I've booked to go see the lion king this summer and taking my kid. If we had a tall person in front of us I'd be anoid too after spending 300.00.

roxanne119 · 09/04/2021 18:24

Wow what an awful person don’t let her comments ruin your experience . It’s not your fault you had better seats than she did . She was rude. Don’t let it bother you . Seating not your concern 😊

moochingtothepub · 09/04/2021 18:31

It's a tricky one, I choose back row seats so not to annoy people, dp is similarly proportioned. You can also slump down in seats a bit.

Yes you are entitled to go, but equally they want to see - perhaps speak to the theatre next time and explain, they can suggest the best seats

LST · 09/04/2021 18:37

@Lucyk1

Knowing this is an issue, you could have tried booking seats at the back where no one is behind you. I've booked to go see the lion king this summer and taking my kid. If we had a tall person in front of us I'd be anoid too after spending 300.00.
So.. I'm tall. My kid would have to sit at the back with me because of it? Erm no.
Fembot123 · 09/04/2021 18:40

Hopefully you can seat your kid behind another kid on a booster, £300 is ridiculous in my opinion! I want to be on the bloody stage for that

LST · 09/04/2021 18:41

@Fembot123

Hopefully you can seat your kid behind another kid on a booster, £300 is ridiculous in my opinion! I want to be on the bloody stage for that
Quite!
Lachimolala · 09/04/2021 19:01

@LST I don’t think people are being entitled to suggest trying to compensate for the situation somewhat, if you are very tall then it’s not unreasonable to try to take steps to make sure other people can still have a lovely time at the theatre. Just the same as if you’re very short (like me) I’d expect other very short people to have a think about where’s best to sit to make sure you can see etc.

It’s not entitlement, just common courtesy.

LST · 09/04/2021 19:11

Say I was with a very short person?

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