AIBU to expect the majority of people in a full basement theatre in central london to wear masks?

[Rosiestraws]

I went to the Leicester square theatre on Mon to see Michael McIntyre (400 capacity - sold out and every seat full).

The information on booking was requesting mask wearing and advising there would be temperature checks on arrival. The latter happened but I was astounded that there was no mention of masks on the tannoy inside (they were able to comment on not recording the show etc but not a gentle reminder that they request mask wearing!?), nor signs up anywhere and I was one of very few people who wore a mask - I would say it was about 85% of the packed theatre without them.

This has been the first time I've encountered this in a similar setting - most theatres for plays/musicals which I have been to (I have been out regularly) have encouraged mask wearing and the public were at least 75% wearing them. I was just so shocked that it was the opposite.

I also noticed that the majority of the people there were over 50 - does anyone think this is perhaps because they have had their boosters perhaps and aren't as concerned to wear masks?

Adding to my concern was a gentleman directly behind me with a cough who coughed multiple times throughout the show (made worse by his raucous laughing of course as it was a comedy show). Surely common decency would mean wearing a mask if you have a proper cough.. he kept having a coughing fit and then saying "oh dear" or "deary me"...

I know that mask wearing is optional now, but you go down two flights of stairs to go into a basement theatre, in Winter, in central London when cases are rising - surely it's just common sense to wear a mask in these circumstances - it could not be more high risk, especially with people cheering and laughing loads? The strange thing was quite a few of the same people who were in the theatre mask-less then ended up leaving and heading to the tube at the same time as me and wearing masks on the tube!

Just wanted a rant and wondered if others were encountering this too and what they thought. I would not have attended the show if I had thought it would be majority maskless and it hasnt been my experience anywhere else (in central london, where I live) so just wondered if things are changing or if i was unlikely on this particular night...

Adding to my concern was a gentleman directly behind me with a cough who coughed multiple times throughout the show (made worse by his raucous laughing of course as it was a comedy show). Surely common decency would mean wearing a mask if you have a proper cough.. he kept having a coughing fit and then saying "oh dear" or "deary me"...
Please don't judge coughers. If he coughs when he laughs, chances are he has a chronic lung condition. My asthma has been awful since mask wearing became the norm, and I can laugh without a coughing fit. Since we have stopped having to wear masks my breathing has improved no end.

It isn't reasonable for you to expect other people to share your masking preferences in an environment where it's a choice, no. If you don't want to be in a basement theatre with a lot of unmasked people, only go to basement theatres where mask wearing is compulsory.

If you're that concerned about people not wearing masks, then perhaps the theatre is not the right place for you.

I'll also echo the posters who say that mask wearing at theatres I've been to since restrictions eased has been very low. A few scattered people in masks, but overwhelmingly maskless. Without a mask mandate it becomes personal choice and most people given a choice don't want to wear them for several hours. Most don't wear medical grade masks with perfect compliance anyway, so compulsory face masks wouldn't factor into personal Covid risk assessments for me.

@lanthanum

Are any theatres trying having some performances where masks are compulsory? I think there are plenty of people who would be much more willing to go if they know that everyone will be wearing masks.

I guess for the big places where they can sell out anyway, it makes no difference to them, but for places that aren't managing to get their audiences back, it might increase the reach.

We go quite a lot to theatres in London. Masks are a matter of personal choice everywhere. The theatre I know which struggles the most of the Tower Theatre in Stoke Newington (please go!). Masks are optional there too. I'm pretty sure if they thought they could generate full houses with mask compulsion they'd have jumped at it

Honestly, if everyone wearing masks indoors is important to you (as it is to us) just don’t go. Or , make sure you’re vaccinated and boosted and wear a protective mask yourself (FFP3/N95) so you don’t need to overly worry about what other people are doing.

My husband is CEV so despite the above precautions, we’re hanging back on group activities until the picture is much better. It’s not the fault of 20/30 somethings who are unlikely to become seriously ill that he is at greater risk.

It is what it is. The world can’t grind to a halt for probably less than 10% of the population.

I’ve been to that theatre twice in the last few months and very few if any people were wearing masks. They checked temperatures on the way in though.
I was pleased, I’m done with masks. Most people are vaccinated anyway.

I've been to lots of theatres and the cinema quite a few times over the last month. Not many wearing masks - I wasn't either. If you don't like it don't go

I hardly see anyone wearing them in cinemas or theatres, and less and less on the tube. Only in airports and for flights actually

It's crazy of course, it's such an easy thing to do, and it makes such a difference - but if we don't have a general rule about wearing masks in doors in England (as the other 3 nations do) then they won't get worn anywhere.

I was / am in the clinically extremely vulnerable group and have been triple jabbed. There is no way I’m wearing a mask anymore now unless it’s compulsory. I think they’re pointless. If people want to wear themselves then good for them but I find them uncomfortable and invasive and irritating and I just want some normality back in my life. If I was that worried about Covid I wouldn’t be going to the theatre etc.

requesting mask wearing

The key word is ‘request’. It wasn’t a requirement.

Your issue is you didn’t check this beforehand.

I've been to 5 different shows at 3 different theatres this Autumn and I doubt if more than 5% of people wore masks once seated in any of them. This is despite e-mails and even tannoy reminders asking people to do so and the e-mails saying staff will ask people to do so.

Why do you think a mask is a magic cloak of invincibility? It helps certainly but it doesn't remove the risk.

I am pretty relaxed about covid generally but I haven't yet been to the theatre or cinema - feels a bit like the final frontier for me in terms of being close to lots of strangers. I will go at some point but I've just felt a bit reticent so far.

I’m really keen to go back to the cinema / theatre but can’t quite bring myself to for this very reason - the thought of sitting in a stuffy auditorium with hundreds of others for several hours, no masks, people talking and laughing, with current covid rates - just feels like a step too far. I don’t blame ppl for not wearing masks, given it’s not a requirement, though I am surprised by how many people have no qualms about the risks of catching covid in those circumstances. It’s a good thing people are ready to start living life again (though I think we should have kept some basic precautions) but I’m not quite there yet!

On a side note I really wish they’d do away with bloody temperature checking. It’s completely pointless - for a start those forehead thermometers are notoriously inaccurate and secondly the majority of people with delta don’t get a temp anyway. It’s pure hygiene theatre. If venues want to take steps they should insist on masks for those not exempt and/or enforce the checking of vaccines / negative tests, which a lot of places don’t seem to do ..

I’ve been to theatre (not in London) and same venue sent out emails about covid passes and need to wear masks get there not a mask in sight inside.

This week went to a gig at Cardiff Motorpoint with thousands of people again told its a requirement to wear masks as we were in wales and security at the door were telling you you could take them off - barely a mask in sight

Went to London this week prob 60/40 people wearing masks to not wearing them on the tube where they are legally required to

I just don’t get why people are being so apathetic about mask wearing it’s a small but impactful measure - no wonder cases going up

@Frederica852

Why do you think a mask is a magic cloak of invincibility? It helps certainly but it doesn't remove the risk.

I am pretty relaxed about covid generally but I haven't yet been to the theatre or cinema - feels a bit like the final frontier for me in terms of being close to lots of strangers. I will go at some point but I've just felt a bit reticent so far.

@Frederica852

Literally no one thinks masks are magic. As you say it helps reduce risk, and it's a simple thing we can do that allows us to get on with our lives. If you prefer to avoid going out - that's fine, but if we all did that a whole bunch more business would have gone bust, more people would be out of work, and we'd be racking up even more public debt. For the country overall, it's better we all get out and get on with life, while doing what we can to reduce transmission.

@WTF475878237NC

This is why I won't go to the theatre or cinema. I would be too stressed about people not wearing masks and the lack of ventilation. Sorry OP.

Yes, I feel the same way. YANBU OP, it's a risk I'd rather avoid right now.

In some ways I can understand why people weren't wearing masks, as I would struggle to wear a mask for 2 hours (my glasses steam up and I have rhinitis). At the same time, it feels wrong not to wear one, when mixing with strangers indoors, so I barely go anywhere or do anything. Bloody Covid, when will it ever end?

We went to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child last weekend. No way was I going to sit in a mask for over 5 hours. However I recently had covid so the chances of me getting it again so soon, and/or unknowingly having it and passing it on to someone else in the theatre, must be extremely low.

Most people didn’t wear masks sat down but did wear them when moving about the theatre, which is what we did.

When do we stop wearing masks? Genuinely interested to know, is it now that most are double jabbed and many triple jabbed? Is it a year from now? Is it under a certain number of cases? Is it that we wear them forever?

I stupidly went to the theatre a few weeks ago, no temperature checks and hardly anyone had a mask. I caught Covid, this was the first time I'd been anywhere inside since this all started. X

Yanbu. Particularly with the prospect of a new strain on the way.

I caught Covid, this was the first time I'd been anywhere inside since this all started.

You started with a theatre? Seriously?

@lisaandalan

I stupidly went to the theatre a few weeks ago, no temperature checks and hardly anyone had a mask. I caught Covid, this was the first time I'd been anywhere inside since this all started. X

I assume you're well and recovering? You had given up life for long enough IMO.

Mask wearing was advisory, most people decided not to wear one

If you were really that concerned I think you shouldn't have gone

OP chose to visit the theatre, therefore increasing the risk of exposure.

Face masks aren't mandated; why assume everyone will be wearing one? You could have popped on your mask and enjoyed the show.

Regardless of who's boosted up and whatnot, we ALL know how COVID spreads, and wearing a face mask is the first form of defence. Aerosoles enter our bodies via our nostrils, so what does this tell you .....?