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...

@Maskless

Everyone's posting as though a scholarly, peer reviewed study had not been published only last week showing that masks have zero effect on the transmission of covid.

Whereas this study: www.bmj.com/content/bmj/375/bmj-2021-068302.full.pdf Seems to indicate the opposite. I’m sure everyone is interested to see your link to the opposing study.

Aren't masks only effective in passing contact/under 30 minutes, if you're sat shoulder to shoulder for a couple of hours I thought the effects were negligible

@BeardieWeirdie

If you’re healthy and fully vaccinated, the chances of you being severely ill let alone dying from Covid are minimal. Why should vaccinated theatre-goers wear masks to protect fuck-wit anti-vaxxers? I’ve no sympathy whatsoever for the unvaccinated who peg it. Evolution in action.

Who said the vaccinated are wearing masks to protect the anti-vaccinated?

You're FAR gone if you believe the vaccine stops transmission. You're also FAR gone if you believe the vaccine out beats natural resistance to the virus.

Yes, evolution. The virus evolved. Shock horror - the vaccinate and spread the virus and die from it.

Masks help to a certain extent. The particles are tiny; they can penetrate most masks/face coverings.

I went to see Tina in the summer. There was me and one other person wearing a mask. That was it!

The worst part was to get into the theatre you had to show a covid pass and wear and mask. Then everyone just took their masks off!

I won't be going back to the theatre for a long time

@thinkfast

I went to see Tina in the summer. There was me and one other person wearing a mask. That was it!

The worst part was to get into the theatre you had to show a covid pass and wear and mask. Then everyone just took their masks off!

I won't be going back to the theatre for a long time

Fat lot of good this COVID pass does.

I’m going to the theatre twice this month. I do hope I am not made to wear a mask - its not fun watching through steamed up glasses. I will if I have to. The thing is, where it has been made a choice to wear one, people will choose. Also, we’re all selfish in one way or another. You wear a mask because you believe it’s right and so think everyone else should. If you thought covid was another flu etc you’d probably not sit there wearing a mask. You’re doing that for you.

With Covid I think that when you are weighing up risk, it’s important that you recognise the only person whose actions you can control are your own and make decisions based on that. Masks aren’t mandatory so a lot of people aren’t wearing them. That’s selfish, but then going to theatre is also risking Covid spread for no gain other than your enjoyment which is also selfish. You can’t just take your personal comfort level (which is busy indoor events are fine as long as there are face masks) and decide that is the right one and everyone should stick to it.

And mask wearing will never be 100%. Some people are exempt. Even when mask wearing was mandatory theatres and cinemas still sold food and drink. If people don’t want to wear a mask then can just sip on a bottle of water for the duration. The nature of theatres makes it difficult to police as well. Stewards are not going to approach the person in the middle of the row mid performance for not wearing a mask. If you’re not comfortable with that, then the theatre isn’t the place for you at the moment.