Crisps shouldn’t be allowed in the theatre

[coffeegirl73]

Went to a play tonight - a professional production - tickets weren’t cheap. But for me it was spoilt by people all round me munching from large family size bags of crisps and bags of sweets. I just feel it’s very disrespectful to the performers. It seems mad to me that we can’t go an hour without eating?? They were selling ice cream at the interval which is kinda traditional I guess and most people finishing off their ice cream wouldn’t make noise. The 2nd half was worse- the girl beside me had a large bag of sweets that were individually wrapped and she was constantly unwrapping sweets and offering them to her friends. Was at Stratford there last year and there’s no way you would eat through the performance but this theatre is also pretty well known. Was very annoyed

Don't go and see shows in a public setting where they sell food that might have any sort of noise being made whilst it's being eaten if you dont want to hear it. Perhaps next time you could hire a private box then your delicate ears cannot hear such intrusive sounds.

I agree re the eating OP - it’s deeply annoying. And crisps in a theatre setting is just bonkers.

I agree op.

I agree OP! Why can’t people go to the theatre these days without constant noisy eating? It’s so rude and bad-mannered. I went to see a ballet last year at a big regional theatre that used to be wonderful, but now they sell popcorn, sandwiches and beer to take into the auditorium and everyone was rustling and munching so loudly you could hardly hear the music, and the whole place smelt vile, of spilt sticky beer and drinks. A woman in our row was eating a hummus salad in a box. The tickets cost £150 for all of us and I was so disgusted - will never go back there. What is wrong with people? A theatre isn’t a canteen.

YANBU. It’s distracting and spoils the experience.
Even my 9 year old can sit still for two hours without feeling the need to stuff her face every 5 seconds.

It is annoying when people can't do things quietly or discreetly. Venues should avoid selling things in overly crinkly packaging like they avoid selling overly smelly foods.

No.. thank God ! My children grew up with plenty of common sense and also a lot of kindness and consideration to others. No way would they or I munch and rustle our way through a live performance. It’s hugely disrespectful to the performers and immensely annoying to fellow watchers.

someone who believes ‘it’s in public’ is a reason to behave rudely ,is teaching their children that selfish behaviour is fine because doing what you want without considering others is all that matters. Very sad.

Omg eating during a ballet??? That’s ridiculous. Why do people feel the need to constantly stuff themselves. The cinema is a lost cause at this stage but to eat during a live performance is just so disrespectful to the performers??! I feel a “complaint” coming on as it was a very good show . And people were scrolling on their phones too with it on full brightness. How rude is that. Plus phones were constantly beeping. I think they should have made an announcement about that

I agree OP but a bit of common sense is needed by the venue if they are selling food. Obviously they make a lot of money from it but some items are much quieter than others. I was at a musical recently and they had a particular type of jellies but whatever way the bags were they were unbelievably noisy. I could hear them being rustled throughout the audience all through the show.

I wonder if people eat nuts in the theatre/cinema?
Never seen any announcement asking patrons not to, in fact nuts are often sold in such places.

Agree completely, some people are so inconsiderate. I thought most places didn't allow this anymore.

I agree I can't stand that crunching sound by multiple people

Popcorn is the worst! Cannot believe theatres are stupid enough to sell it 🤬. Cinemas are different as the sound is so loud you can’t usually hear the constant noise but in a quiet theatre you can hear everything. So lacking in awareness and consideration for others but tis the way of the world nowadays sadly 😢

the girl beside me had a large bag of sweets that were individually wrapped and she was constantly unwrapping sweets and offering them to her friends.

She's be getting a strong look and a "shhhh" from me if she were doing that sitting next to me. Or a word at the interval.

Some people just don't know how to behave.

Agree 1000%!!!

went to a production last week. Two tickets for £300 and they were by no means the most expensive. People next to me had a tub of crisps. Deafening! I did ask them to stop

the person saying hire a private box is both dumb (they barely exist) and unreasonable

Well of course not, shouldn't be eating anything harder than a soft bread roll. Life would be soooo much better if all cinemas and theatres adopted the Wittertainment code of conduct!

I couldn’t agree more. It’s so inconsiderate. Eat directly before or after the play if you’re hungry. Not during.

The key word is “public”. Which means it’s not just your space and some consideration of others is required. Are you the sort of person who uses their mobile to watch videos without headphones on public transport? Or do you accept that’s not ok in public? Because it amounts to the same thing: being an inconsiderate idiot in public.

i went to the theatre twice in a week not so long ago which is unusual.
first was a musical so a lot of families there. the behaviour of children and adults were appalling. one family in front, not one person sat in the same seat for more than 15 minutes. another, the dad was checking the footy scores on his phone (matinee performance), another parent let their 8/9 year old stand up to watch because they 'wanted to'. and the amount of noise from sweets, crisps and drinks was off the scale.
the next visit was a classic play based on a text often studied at GCSE. lots of teenagers there with parents. no interval and just 1 hr 45 mins long.
there were sweet bags rattling, cans being opened and very loud crunching with various sharing of packets along the groups. in the main it was the adults over the teenagers. i found it so disrespectful to the actors on stage. there were a lot of tense and quiet moments and then 'psst' someone chooses to open their can of rola cola at that moment.
my 13 year old could not get why can no one manage two hours without stuffing their faces anymore. i agree with her!
i'd love to know what the actors think of it.
doubt ill be off to the theatre any time soon.

Theatres themselves make a lot of money from crisps, the one near me does the ones in a tin at £5 a pop.

Completely agree OP. It does make me think twice about attending productions at some theatres/ some shows that I think will be particularly bad for it. So I hope that the money the theatres make from the £5 bag of crisps compensates for the lost sales of £100+ tickets.

She sounds fucking irritating.