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

[MangoSeason]

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!

Theatre? What's that? Something we used to have in the UK and would have again now if we had a competent government who had closed the borders, enforced and personally followed restrictions, and who cared about the arts. Even by the low standards of Australian politics our current UK Prime Minister is much, much worse.

Reasonable to be disappointed by a view being impacted, but the constant tirade if that was the case was not.

I've given up on going to the cinema, theatre or anything with a stage. I dont think I've ever seen an entire performance in my life.
At 4ft11 and a short torso its near impossible, add in neck and spinal injurys, I've got no chance in he'll of seeing over my 5ft4 sister never mind someone who is 6ft plus.
But this is my problem. I do however get very annoyed when I'm somewhere without allocated seating and a very tall person planks themselves in front of me when there are loads of seats behind me - it's not like I can block their view.
I think from years of being literally looked over and treated like a stupid child, I'm somewhat sensitive to it.
Allocated seating is unfortunate for short people but little can be done so I've given up.
My stepfather is very tall at 6ft 6 and he always books seats at the back so he doesn't block anyone's view

I'm 5ft1 and just assume I'll have to sit at an odd angle to see around the people in front of me. Not really sure what you were supposed to do about the situation.

This is why I only go to the theatre if I know it has a reasonable incline so I can see over people’s heads, or if I can get seats at the front of the circle. I hate paying then not being able to see.

@AliceMcK

It’s so frustrating when your short and sat behind tall people. I remember being super excited to get tickets to a ballet I’d wanted to see for years, I was seated in the 2nd row with 2 giants in front of me who didn’t bloody stop moving.

Wow, you're incredibly rude. Two GIANTS. FFS, that's just bloody nasty.

I once had the audacity to have a tickly cough during a play once. I'm sorry my asthma offended you, patron of seat D23 but don't worry - you made it perfectly clear by glancing over with evil pointed eyes every time I gave in to the need to breath.

I will carry the shame with me always.

My husband and I are short (5'3 and 5'5) and absolutely dread sitting behind someone tall - but that is life and we wouldn't make a fuss about it. TBH, it is less of a problem to me personally than someone who insists on unwrapping and devouring sweets all the way through, (that REALLY pee's me off) or insists on talking/singing along (when not invited) etc.

As you say - have you been wearing a huge hat and refused to remove it, that would be different, but you weren't. You just happen to be tall. Maybe she could have sat on her handbag? Or accepted the other woman's offer of a change of seat. She was amazedly mare and had no right to ruin your evening. Do you think she was hoping you would offer to swap seats with her?

I would also, while I a here, like to thank all of the tall people in supermarkets and libraries who have handed me down items I could not reach (you have your uses )

@C8H10N4O2

most tall people seem oblivious to their height

Oh trust me we are not. All those endless jokes about "the weather up there", "giraffe" comments, the endless "surprised sneer" look from shop assistants when trying to find shoes which actually fit long narrow feet (such a confidence boost for teens), the cramp from trying to squeeze into many venue seats, paying extra on planes because the leg room is less than upper leg length.

Its literally impossible to be oblivious to your height if you are tall, mainly because of short people endlessly commenting on it.

Oh yes, being told every fucking day 'oh, your tall!'. No shit! Also, not having one single high street shop to go to for clothes, and even then, its a very limited choice on line, with a lot of retailers thinking that a 34" inside leg is long enough 😂🙄, with no though to any other proportional adjustments to arm length or middle rise... Basing house choices by the height of the door frames/ceilings. Testing every car you might want to buy to ensure the seat can go back far enough and still leave room for something other than a small bag of shopping in the seat behind you. The expense of bigger mattresses and bed linen as we simply want our feet AND our shoulders to be warm overnight. I could go on. Every bloody day, I am aware of how tall I am. Fuck's sake.

@littlebillie

It's interesting, people feel comfortable being rude about height and being tall.

Sometimes it seems that mocking very tall women and very short men remain socially acceptable free kicks.

The worst thing about going to live performances is the people around you. And the seats. I love live theatre and music, but GOD, you've got to be really in the zone to filter out:
the giant in front
your cramped also giant partner
loud tuneless singalongs
drunks weaving past with trays of beer for their row of pals
chatting
malevolent farts
your own weak bladder
the person who can't find their seat twelve minutes into the second half
the twat who thinks dancing in the aisle can't possibly be blocking anyone's view
the lack of space to put down the £4 bottle of water you bought before the show started when you want to clap
I can't think why I'm so eager for all this to start up again. But I bloody am.

Shmithecat2, I hear you! I’m still scarred from being shamed at school assembly nearly 30 years ago for my school skirt being too short. The hem was let completely down. What was I meant to do?

At least you noticed - most tall people seem oblivious to their height.

Don't be ridiculous. DH is 6ft7, DS1 is 6ft1, DS2 is 6ft3 and growing. They could never forget how tall they are because everyone else seems to think it's ok to comment on it all the time. Usually shorter people.

Can I reccommend a collapsible top hat for you to carry in your bag, or it might fit in a pocket.

Sorry OP
If it makes you feel any better, you've done me a favour. I miss theatre so much and now I'm reminded of the heart sink when a tall person sits in front of me!

I'm 5ft 1. I hate it, but tall friends often tell me to be grateful.

@youshallnotpass9

Can I reccommend a collapsible top hat for you to carry in your bag, or it might fit in a pocket.

Tempting, but as my wise DH says, “Don’t poke the bear”. Mind you, it would have been useful when she was muttering what sounded like Hagrid beneath her breath.

At least you noticed - most tall people seem oblivious to their height.

What do you suggest tall people do to acknowledge their height? Literally bow their heads in apology to people?

The hem was let completely down. What was I meant to do?

Cut your legs off obviously. And of course all kids are the same height so no option for different lengths of school uniform, just the "option" to buy stuff too wide in the hope of gaining an inch of length.

And don't start me on schools who automatically put tall kids at the back of the class even when they are visually impaired.

Or children's shoes being exempt from VAT in the UK but based on size, not age of child. So tall kids have to pay much more for school shoes whilst short adults can buy in the tax exempt smaller sizes included in most adult ranges.

You've just reminded me why theatre-going and general eventery from the Before Times wasn't quite all my nostalgia and longing have made it out to be, so thanks

@MangoSeason for rude people, I wouldn't give a shit, I would wear it and turn around and smile everytime.

Or a periscope? to give to the rude people, with a fuck you grin on your face

I’m short but the only time I get frustrated is at the cinema where tall adults and children have booked the row in front and put themselves in front of my kids instead of their kids in front of you see what I mean

Could you not just swap with your own kids, though, once the family in front have chosen their seats? Also, their kids might have a propensity to fight and need to have a parent(s) between them to distance them.

Worst one was a Robbie Williams concert

Now, that I can well believe

Maybe they ought to design any new theatres with seats that individually sink right into the floor. Then, when you book, they ask your height, and use an algorithm-based hydraulic system to raise your seat to just the right height so that you can see well and everybody behind you can as well! They could even have the option of sinking all of the seats down into the floor and using the whole place as a dancefloor!

Alternatively, they could put the stage up really high and sloped down forwards (using invisible wires or magnets to prevent people/props tumbling forwards), so that everybody would look up slightly and be able to see clearly.

I’m not going to say what my actual job is, but you’ve probably guessed already that it isn’t ‘theatre designer’!

Seriously, though, I don’t see why they couldn’t provide plenty of subtle proper cushioned furniture-grade booster 'slabs' in the same shape and colour/pattern as the seats, though, rather than just the big red plastic ones for kids (which little ones love, but are a bit embarrassing for older-but-still-not-yet-very-tall kids). They could have them 1-2 inches high each, stacked up at the end of rows and let you take as many as you need, which might vary for different performances depending on who ends up sitting near to you. Might that work? Unless you're very tiny and suffer from vertigo, maybe?

Bold fail

@MangoSeason

Shmithecat2, I hear you! I’m still scarred from being shamed at school assembly nearly 30 years ago for my school skirt being too short. The hem was let completely down. What was I meant to do?

Ugh. I was 6'1 at 14. Gym skirt barely covered my arse. Skirts too short. Couldn't find trousers long enough, all flapping above my ankles. Uniform jumper arms too short. Shirts too short and would constantly become untucked from the waistband of my too short skirt. This was back in the 80s when there was no other options. It was fucking miserable. Bad enough being singled out by your height as an awkward, gangly teen, to then look like a complete shit show clothes wise because nothing ever fitted. I love my height now, but it took my to my late 20s to get there.

So, to whichever ignoramus said we're not aware, YES WE BLOODY WELL ARE. From a very early age. Particularly if you're female.

I had a similar experience at Hamilton in linden. Paid a lot of money for a good seat then the world’s tallest man sat in front of me and I couldn’t see a thing. It’s not your fault you are tall but I can totally understand the frustration of the lady.

There’s no easy answer- especially in these older theatres with little rake.

[quote littlepattilou]@AliceMcK

It’s so frustrating when your short and sat behind tall people. I remember being super excited to get tickets to a ballet I’d wanted to see for years, I was seated in the 2nd row with 2 giants in front of me who didn’t bloody stop moving.

Wow, you're incredibly rude. Two GIANTS. FFS, that's just bloody nasty. [/quote]
Why is it nasty, they were bloody giants, both could have been basket ball pros, the man was easily over 7’ so would formally be lasted as a giant. The woman not much shorter.

Giant, adjective, of very great size or force; gigantic.

I was stating a fact!

malevolent farts

I loved their bold, progressive first album, but they rapidly seemed to lose their edge after that.