Food and drink in theatre

[Lookforthegoodthings]

Taking my Dd, 6, to The Nutcracker at the weekend. It states that there is no food or drink to be consumed. The show is 90 minutes long. Surely you can bring a bottle of water for children? (and I will need to take a small snack)

What have you done when taking Dc to see a show?

If a 6 year old NT child without a medical condition cannot survive a 90 mins performance with a break halfway through without food, drink or a wee, I'm afraid it's a parenting issue. The theatre is one of those places where you need to teach your child etiquette and discipline - sometimes you just have to wait a little while and can't just eat, drink or nip to the loo whenever you want.
Plan ahead. Make sure she's eaten and is well hydrated before you arrive at the theatre. Take her to the loo on arrival and again in the intermission. There should be free water available so she can have a drink - ask at the bar.
If you think she'll struggle, maybe she's too young for an experience like this just yet?

I went on Wednesday. The first half is 50 minutes, then there is a 20 minute interval and another 50 minutes-ish. The one thing I wished was that the music was a little louder. It is absolutely stunning though and I was blown away. Because the music wasn't as loud as it could be though, the last thing I would have wanted would have been to have heard somebody rustling about eating near me. It's amazing, you'll have a lovely time!

Of course you'll be allowed back in after using the toilet!

Er no. It depends on the theatre. The Royal Opera house for example, definitely no. You won't be allowed back until the interval.

kids can go without a drink for 90 minutes. They will be fine.

Years ago we didn’t have this obsession with having access to drinks constantly. In schools, children could only have a drink at break and lunchtime and they coped perfectly fine.

I find this obsession with needing a permanent water bottle bizarre.

Which production are you going to? Different theatres have different standards. If it's a "my first ballet" type of show, then they will expect food, drink and a degree of noise. If you're at the RoH, then it's the opposite end of the scale.
As for getting up and going to the loo, surely you don't expect to be in and out with your DC during the production? If you do, then hopefully you have booked the aisle seat and the one next to it in the back row so won't inconvenience anyone on the way out. Even in those seats, I very much doubt they'll let you back in unless there is a convenient moment (scene change for example).
The queue for the loo can be long so get there with plenty of time. To maximise time for another trip to the loo in the interval and to get your DD a drink as quickly as possible, pre-order those on arrival
I hope you have a brilliant time! I expect your DD will be so mesmerised that she won't have a chance to think about food, drink or needing a wee.

Why do some people think that the rules don't apply to them/their children?

So annoying.

I completely agree @Jifmicroliquid

I don't understand it either. I am a teacher and the constant requests to get up and have water are irritating and disruptive. I remind the class that you can live for three days without water so an hour won't kill you.

Judging by this post, children are simply not being taught that they have to wait patiently for things in certain circumstances.

We buy DS popcorn or ice cream at the pantomime- it’s a loud performance and the sweets are part of the treat. He was told absolutely no food during the ballet we watched. It’s much quieter, so you can easily disturb people.

I thought this thread was going to be a rant about people who eat and drink in the theatre. Some theatres have become like cinemas now with everyone munching away. I wish all theatres would ban it.

The Nutcracker is on all over the country at this time of year. How do you know you were at the same theatre? Plus your performance sounds like a full length production whereas if @Lookforthegoodthings is going to a 90 minute performance it might have been shortened for families.

FWIW I've never been to a theatre where you weren't allowed to take food and drink into the auditorium, they all have bars. Never had my bag searched at a theatre either, and I'm a regular theatre goer. Having said all that a six year old is old enough to learn you don't eat food during the performance, just during the interval.

Never had my bag searched at a theatre either, and I'm a regular theatre goer.

Really? I would say at least 50% of the time.

We went last year , definitely do bag searches we had our water and mints taken away , they say you can only consume stuff purchased from their selfs it’s unfortunate the same with most shows

If it’s the nutcracker at the Coliseum you’ll be fine. They gave out free water in paper cups, when we were there at Easter. They also sold ice creams during the interval.

Where are you seeing it? They don’t want it to be a free for all full of kids eating that’s all. You can buy a bottle of water in there.

There is no way a 6yo needs a drink and a snack inside 90mins. Can they not go without snacks for 90mins at school? It seems very odd. I wouldn’t have considered a drink and snacks for mine at that age. I was more worried about the toilet and forcing them all to do a wee before we went into shows.

90 minutes is nothing. Of course she can go that long without food and drink.

When I go to the theatre it is printed on the tickets that they don't let you in until a suitable interval presents itself during the performance.

A certain level of behaviour and being able to sit quietly and just watch is expected at the theatre.

Eat before you go and take a bottle of water but just check first with ushers it's ok. Kids don't need to constantly snack nor do adults. So annoying being in a theatre and hearing people scoffing and rustling! It's a theatre not a cinema

A theatre is not a cinema.

Food and drink can spill or cause distracting noise. Leaving the theatre to go to the toilet disrupts all of those sitting in your aisle, as does returning from the toilet mid-show. Opening the doors to the theatre streams light in when lighting has been professionally designed for the production. All of these things are incredibly distracting for actors and dancers who are performing live.

A 6-year-old is perfectly capable of having a wee, a snack and a drink before the performance, possibly again at intermission, and again after the show. This is a Year One or Two child, not a toddler. You are being ridiculous.

and I will need to take a small snack)

If neither you, nor your DC, can go 90 minutes without eating then you shouldn’t be going to the theatre (and a rethink of your lifestyle is in order frankly).

There’s an interval. That’s when you can eat and drink.

During the show, have some basic respect for the performers who are working harder than you ever will.

They can wait. The rules are there to be adhered to not broken.

Hey? If a 6 year old needs a wee, they won’t let us back in? This all seems so over the top. I don’t remember it being like this years ago

Just return your tickets. Neither you nor your DC are fit to go to the theatre. You expect that other members of the audience will put up with

the noise if you “snacking”
the noise of your DD asking for her water
the noise of your DD asking to go to the lavatory
The disruption of you getting out of your seats
the disruption of you returning to your seats

Just bloody watch the show. You don’t need to eat or drink for 90 minutes. Or stay at home.

I've had my bag searched at every professional theatre I've ever been at, London and regional. I've actually been detector wanded at a couple 🤷. Stupid and/or intentionally disruptive behaviour means it's needed.

If you're talking about the Royal Opera House production, then, yes, the expectations for patrons are 'high'.

You won't be permitted food or drink inside the auditorium, but it will be available to buy and have in the interval.

You will be expected to remain seated (and to sit still and quiet) for the duration of each act, which is around 50 minutes. All theatres reserve the right to prevent disruption to the house by controlling when/if patrons can return to seats if they leave them but ROH are better at enforcement of this.

It's not that big an ask, necessary for the production to be enjoyable for everyone, and, disability aside, perfectly possible for anyone actually old enough to be there.

A pp said they should be able to eat as long as it’s not a “rustly” snack. How do you expect the ushers to monitor that though?

Some of the audience might think crisps are too noisy but feel crunching on maltesers or an apple are OK. Or what about the person who eats a no so noisy snack in a noisy manner?

What next, should the theatre then have to resort to writing up an approved list of snacks and guidelines about how to eat it, then inevitably have people argue over the interpretation of the guidelines?

What an absurd faff that would be- it’s much easier and more sensible to just outright ban eating to avoid any issues. The same way it’s much safer to say “no talking”, than to say “only talk quietly” in the theatre.

Every theatre I have been to has a monitor in the foyer that people continue watching until the interval. ‘Serious’ theatre, ballet, opera, anyway. Or they might have points during the show where they usher you discreetly back in.

But clambering across to your middle seats with everyone shuffling to let you get in front in the middle of a quite movement or play?

Nope.