Annoying audience members in the theatre

[beverleybass]

Does anybody else ALWAYS seem to have seats right by the worst people in the theatre. I must just be unlucky.

This year saw Come From Away and was directly behind 3 women who kept chatting all the way through, including during really emotional and key moments and solos. Someone tapped them on the shoulder and told them to shush in the end which improved things slightly.

I also saw Cinderella and more chatters as well phones coming out constantly with their shining lights.

What is the point spending all that money on tickets to look at your phone or chat to people??

Anyway saw Mamma Mia as a birthday treat today and it was honestly the worst of the lot. People on my row playing musical chairs, people arriving up to fifteen mins late (and still being let in) the man to the left of me kept singing along with the songs, the people in front chatting and constantly zipping/unzipping bags and rustling noisy bags of snacks.

How hard is it to sit still and be quiet

You need a proformer like Christy who has no hesitation in calling out idiots.
www.live95fm.ie/news/buzz/watch-christy-moore-tells-noisy-people-in-audience-to-get-your-money-back-and-fk-off/

@Getmeoutaherenow

I don’t go to the cinema because of this, sometimes I say something but the whole experience of having to be confrontational or putting up with it ruins any sense of pleasure which ever I choose. The theatre feels even worse, as it’s so expensive you’d think it would be better because it’s a bigger treat but if anything it’s worse.

We enjoy ballet and Opera and plays at the cinema, live streamed from theatres around the world. We find they attract a more discerning audience, without the chavs (yes, I said it) that tip up at theatres to annoy other theatre goers. Interestingly, not only are they not drunk and/or chatty, but many of those at the cinema for theatre events even get dressed-up for the event. I find that a good night is had by all. 🙂

@Jem57

I went to a show and a bunch of drunken women were talking loudly right from the start,people were tapping them on the shoulder telling them to be quiet.Anyway next minute a massive brawl broke out,it was horrendous,all the theatre lights came on,security,ushers the lot trying to break it up.Why oh why do they even bother going.

The problem is alcohol. With many people the drink takes over what was a well intentioned effort to see some culture and going to the effort of buying and paying for the tickets.

Obviously the further problem is just downright arseholes but it's the alcohol that turns even reasonably well mannered people into pricks in these situations

The last thing I want to do when I go to the cinema is to drink excessively

a) because it will impair my enjoyment of the show
b) I will inevitably need a wee at some point that doesn't coincide with the break

Why would you do this to yourself ?

I’ve pretty much given up on the large productions because of this and now see shows are a much smaller local theatre. It’s doesnt have big west end shoes travelling to it, but it shows are almost always incredible, and the ticket prices are much lower. My son has been to the big theatre once, to watch one of David Walliams shows, but he’s been loads to the small local theatre - find your local ones they are often just as enjoyable without the cramped seats and rude people

@AnnieSnap, but why would a filmed or relayed performance of a ballet, opera or play attract a better-behaved audience than the same performance live in the theatre? I don’t deny there are variant types of irksome behaviour at those — the deep coughers, the opera bore banging on between acts about how much better Callas sang it, the person who brings the score with them and follows along in it, ostentatiously turning pages noisily etc — but those venues seldom let in latecomers and front of house are pretty interventionist, ditto the performers, especially conductors. Adam Fischer turned round and glared at someone whose phone rang at a Royal Festival Hall concert I was at. But I’ve not seen people singing along, dancing in the aisles, talking loudly, going in and out to the loo or getting into fights.

@Erinyes I don’t know, but in my experience (of Theatres in Newcastle and Sunderland) they do 🤷‍♀️

When I read the title I was interested to see what the experience had been, I think for the performers feedback from the audience (at appropriate times/when invited) is brilliant so I will always be enthusiastic if they are encouraging clapping/singing or when applauding.

However, making loads of noise, talking, being on a phone,eating and drinking loudly is rude to the performers and the other audience members, I have no idea why people do it and it's such a shame theatres have to sell (overpriced noisy) foodstuffs to stay afloat that encourages it.

We went to see book of Mormon last week, it was great! And most of the audience were great. A little chatter (but engaged with the performance) from behind which wasn't dreadful. But one guy, he came in late, got up and down and up and down and up and down 🤷‍♀️. Maybe he had an issue bit surely he could have asked for an aisle seat from an usher if so.

Definitely YANBU people are entitled arses

[quote Erinyes]@AnnieSnap, but why would a filmed or relayed performance of a ballet, opera or play attract a better-behaved audience than the same performance live in the theatre? I don’t deny there are variant types of irksome behaviour at those — the deep coughers, the opera bore banging on between acts about how much better Callas sang it, the person who brings the score with them and follows along in it, ostentatiously turning pages noisily etc — but those venues seldom let in latecomers and front of house are pretty interventionist, ditto the performers, especially conductors. Adam Fischer turned round and glared at someone whose phone rang at a Royal Festival Hall concert I was at. But I’ve not seen people singing along, dancing in the aisles, talking loudly, going in and out to the loo or getting into fights.[/quote]
I've only been to a couple of these, ages ago, but I did find the audience very well-behaved.
Might have been a combination of factors: they were both matinees, the audience was largely 'mature' (I was late 30s and rather a lot younger than most of them!), and they were in the Curzon Chelsea in London, so a) an 'arthouse' chain and b) in a 'naice' area.
And come to think of it, some people WERE dressed up .
I wonder if there's more sense of entitlement from live performances when people have paid £££ than in a screening, which is relatively cheaper and so accessible to people who might not want or be able to pay a lot?

I mentioned this thread to someone yesterday, and they said that theatres struggle, and they positively encourage hen groups etc to go to musicals as part of their weekend. Of course that doesn’t make for a nice experience for the patrons who’ve paid £££££ for an undisturbed experience, but does explain why they are tolerated.

I do hope regional theatres make a comeback. The best play I ever saw was Home at Seven at the Shanklin theatre whilst on holiday on the Isle of Wight. There were only ten people in the audience, and we were four of them

@DottyHarmer

I mentioned this thread to someone yesterday, and they said that theatres struggle, and they positively encourage hen groups etc to go to musicals as part of their weekend. Of course that doesn’t make for a nice experience for the patrons who’ve paid £££££ for an undisturbed experience, but does explain why they are tolerated.

I do hope regional theatres make a comeback. The best play I ever saw was Home at Seven at the Shanklin theatre whilst on holiday on the Isle of Wight. There were only ten people in the audience, and we were four of them

Yes, I was thinking large 'party' groups must be a lucrative and fairly easy market to target. it's so tough for theatres and I do sympathise. I can't really blame them for doing whatever they can to keep shows open. Maybe they could run specific 'party sessions' where it's to be expected that a lot of the audience might be rather 'lively'...? at least other punters wanting the usual quiet experience would know to avoid those nights

This thread has made me feel a bit sad. Been wanting to see Dirty Dancing or Moulin Rouge but was reluctant due to the cost...never occurred to me there would be drunken numpties there!
Maybe it's because people have paid a lot they feel they are justified and entitled to act however they like. It's higher stakes to get their money's worth and they want the full experience, and they want it how it suits them.
Certainly we seem to be increasingly individualistic as a society.

I recently went to a gig where I was one of the youngest people there (at 40.) I kept thinking there was something a bit unusual about the crowd and how relaxed it all was, then it dawned on me - not a phone in sight.

Same at music gigs...people talking and on phones with their back to the stage...people have forgotten how to concentrate and think everything is for instagram

Response I had from an email the manager at moulin rouge after group got our row up 8 times during the first act, before they were sick and left in interval.

I asked if guests were encouraged to be seated at less disruptive times as is usually common (eg. Not during key plot points or quiet bits)

"In regards to people entering & exiting, whilst I understand it can be disruptive, once the show is past a certain point, people can enter & exit as they wish."

I'm surprised they don't ask people to wait and take notice if like we had people are getting up multiple times in the middle of rows

It’s the people literally stuffing their faces as soon as they sit down. I got the the cinema at least once a week and to the theatre a good few times a year.

And I am sorry to say they are often people who look like they should be cutting down on the snacks (am I allowed to say that?)

@Franklin12

It’s the people literally stuffing their faces as soon as they sit down. I got the the cinema at least once a week and to the theatre a good few times a year.

And I am sorry to say they are often people who look like they should be cutting down on the snacks (am I allowed to say that?)

No, I don’t think you should say that. All sizes of people stuff their faces at the cinema!

@NecklessMumster

Same at music gigs...people talking and on phones with their back to the stage...people have forgotten how to concentrate and think everything is for instagram

I hate it at gigs too, DH talks to me and gigs drives me mad. Shut up I'm here for the music! My sister does it too, when her and DH are both with me at a gig it's a bloody nightmare

I work in a live theatre venue. Please do report unacceptable behaviour to staff as soon as you can. We are told to look out for it and deal with it ASAP but I appreciate its harder for staff to spot it some venues; we can only deal with what we see or are told about.

@Scout2016

This thread has made me feel a bit sad. Been wanting to see Dirty Dancing or Moulin Rouge but was reluctant due to the cost...never occurred to me there would be drunken numpties there! Maybe it's because people have paid a lot they feel they are justified and entitled to act however they like. It's higher stakes to get their money's worth and they want the full experience, and they want it how it suits them. Certainly we seem to be increasingly individualistic as a society.

I recently went to a gig where I was one of the youngest people there (at 40.) I kept thinking there was something a bit unusual about the crowd and how relaxed it all was, then it dawned on me - not a phone in sight.

I saw Dirty Dancing last year, and it was very civilised.

I saw someone bringing a bottle of wine from the bar, but he and his companion just drank it quietly during the show afaik.

At a show this week, all well behaved thankfully.

Apart from two women who as soon as the show started, held up their mobile phones, preparing apparently to video the show. The usher moved immediately to stop them. They seemed quite surprised!

I do remember, many years ago, forgetting to turn my phone off when I went to an off-West End theatre for a straight play. Of course it rang. I was wearing a long coat and had stored it in the inside pocket. It was a tiny little Nokia.

Grabbed my coat to extract the phone and turn it off, couldn't find the little bastard. Ended up frantically holding my coat in front of me and punching it in an attempt to silence the phone by knocking it unconscious. I always remember to turn phones off now.

@stuckdownahole

I do remember, many years ago, forgetting to turn my phone off when I went to an off-West End theatre for a straight play. Of course it rang. I was wearing a long coat and had stored it in the inside pocket. It was a tiny little Nokia.

Grabbed my coat to extract the phone and turn it off, couldn't find the little bastard. Ended up frantically holding my coat in front of me and punching it in an attempt to silence the phone by knocking it unconscious. I always remember to turn phones off now.

My phone once went off in a Q and A at a cinema with the stars of the film we'd just watched. It was excruciating. One of said stars made a joke of it, which made it somehow both less and more excruciating. Needless to say, these days I triple-check that my phone is off/silent.

Went to a show recently and the woman sitting directly in front of me, literally bounced her head down onto her partner/ friend's shoulder every other minute, presumably to say something. The seats weren't very tiered so I couldn't look easily past this jack in the box ...

After the twentieth or more time, I took a sharp intake of breath, out of frustration. I think it was the first time she realised that they were not the only two people in the damn place.

She stopped anyway.

went to see dylan moran in manchester a few weeks ago and it was like people had forgotten how to behave. random shouting out things that no one could hear or make sense of. at one point someone kept shouting what sounded like paint an anchor? must have yelled it around 10 times at the top of their voice. it could have been something wanker but no idea. mr moran seemed to get fed up too - only did around 50 mins in total over 2 halves which felt very short.

And what about kids being at shows clearly not suitable for them
I see people moaning about frozen a lot at the moment with the theatre now having a minimum age as its a long show and little ones get bored and cause lots of disruption.
I went to see officer and a gentleman and there was a lovely little girl there maybe 9 years old with mum, grandparents in her sparkly party dress while the show had simulated sex scenes, swearing and suicide - it was so bloody awkward i still think "what were they thinking???"

Im desperate to see moulin rouge so this thread is very disappointing