Booze in theatres

[Conniebygaslight]

We go to various theatres probably about half a dozen times a year to see different things, musicals, comedians, plays, audience with....etc.
Every single time over the last couple of years there has been groups or couples who are constantly shouting out from their seats, always women (usually middle aged) and always off their faces drunk. They completely spoil the show.
We've had women fighting in the foyer, or passed out drunk and/or just generally being very loud and obnoxious./aggressive
We went to see comedian last night and again the 2 women behind us were ridiculous and we had to move.
When did boozing in theatres become the norm?
For reference I'm a middle aged woman who is also a drinker but I can manage a night at the theatre without one.
AIBU to say that alcohol is becoming part of everything nowadays and nowhere is safe from drunken louts?

Conniebygaslight · Today 09:07
Meadowfinch · Today 08:06
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I've never experienced this. Maybe choose a different theatre.
We go to several theatres, always the same.”

What sort of shows are you going to?

To add, I think comedy is different and a couple of drinks are more acceptable. Our small local theatre sadly closed during covid but beforehand would only allow drinks into the auditorium for comedy, not for plays.

You'd expect this at a Magic Mike, but not at any other type of performance unless specifically related to show, such as a sing-along sound of music or rocky horror show

I would cheerfully go back to the days of only water allowed in the auditorium. We had issues with people drinking during Player King's fgs.

Don't get me started on the crisps and popcorn. And the talking, the phones, the up and down to the loo....

Drink at the interval, bit of ice cream, job done. I'm 50/50 in the last twelve months on audience behaviour ruining shows, and they’re not cheap to attend. One especial highlight was the couple who talked ALL the way through the first half of Singing in the Rain, went on a sweary rant when they were finally asked to shut up by staff, then turned out to be in someone else's seats cause they'd fancied them more, and spent the first twenty minutes of act 2 shouting about that before finally stomping off in a huff.

Drinking culture has always been an issue in the UK. If anything it’s getting slightly better with more people not drinking any alcohol at all.

I don’t know if there’s something specific about theatres going on.

Many and varied over the years, up and down the country. York, Leeds, Harrogate, West End, Edinburgh.

It's usually people they look like they don't get out often (yes I'm making assumptions based on age and the type of show) and for a lot of people, not getting out often = getting twatted. Sad really.

But yes never had this at the NT or Old Vic etc

Honestly it's bizarre, I wouldn't go to anything like Magic Mike but if I did I would expect it.

I'm not talking about a couple of drinks though...

I can remember when interval drinks had to be drunk during the interval and you couldn’t take them into the auditorium. That seems to have gone by the book now.

ive worked in theatres and believe me when i say fights are not as uncommon as you might think! especially in relation to certain type of shows. Audience poor behaviour is a massive issue currently for the industry.

Billy Joel song book, An audience with Gary Barlow, An officer and a gentleman, blood brothers. Lots really. I'm not talking about people singing and dancing here, I'm talking about shouting and whooping when the performer is talking. Really drunk people.

Quite!

Tbh, your choice of shows explains it.

I'm talking about women buying bottles of wine each, I'm not adverse to someone having a drink. I understand your point about the comedy but standing up and whooping every 2 mins so you can't hear is bloody annoying.

Why?

Yes I know but getting absolutely plastered hasn't...

Lots of musicals: people get carried away and think it’s perfectly reasonable to be loud and raucous. Tends not to happen at straight plays.

I have never seen this and I go to the theatre a lot. There have always been pre-drinks and interval drinks.

Comedy shows are completely different though.

Buying a drink or too at the theatre yes, but not getting so drunk you become an absolute nightmare and completely out of control

😂😂

If only we could all be properly cultured - these things would not occur

Never seen this.

Obviously not high-brow enough...🙄

It isn't just adult shows. Last time I took my GC to a kids panto, the Dad behind us kept buying pints, then kicking them over. The whole floor was swimming in lager. I agree that the most disrupted performances gas been by middle aged women. I don't know if they are in denial about their reduced tolerance. It's one of the issues with reduced ticket prices, works night out, were the employer has paid etc. The ability to order from the seat possibly adds to this.

But to the point of standing up and shouting when the performers are trying to speak their lines is not on really....