Page 4 | Crisps shouldn’t be allowed in the theatre

coffeegirl73 · 2025-04-26T01:13:58+00:00

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

Nanny0gg · 27/04/2025 15:44

Uppitymuppity · 26/04/2025 02:39

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.

Enough with the snark

Why do you think it's acceptable?

Nanny0gg · 27/04/2025 15:48

beAsensible1 · 27/04/2025 12:05

😂😂😂 you are very bloody rude.

performance and audience shouldn’t feel like a mausoleum. But keep up that attitude that’s why so much theatre can’t get any young people in and is suffering. Their audience continues to harbour people with nasty attitudes such as yourself

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What's the point in performing if half the audience can't hear you??

Lanzarotelady · 27/04/2025 15:50

Uppitymuppity · 26/04/2025 02:39

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.

Don't be bloody stupid, I bet you are one of those fools who sit and eat all the way through any performance!

Lanzarotelady · 27/04/2025 15:51

I actually think shows like Britain's Got Talent etc are the reason people no longer know how to behave in a theatre!

Catandsquirrel · 27/04/2025 15:57

nyancatdays · 26/04/2025 02:46

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.

Sandwiches and salads during the ballet! Why?! If I was a prima ballerina I'd pirouette over and gracefully boot any snacks out of the hands or noisy rustlers on the front row. A quiet ice-cream or drink, fine, I know it's part of revenue generation but who needs a whole spread to munch through?!

nyancatdays · 27/04/2025 16:04

@Catandsquirrel I think this particular theatre (like lots of others) has jumped on the bandwagon of having lots of tribute pop acts, comedy gigs, etc. to fill up the programme between the shows like the ballets, big musicals and plays it used to have. And those audiences clearly want popcorn, sandwiches and beer; but those things are more suitable for a different kind of bar or concert venue with hard flooring and so on, not a traditional theatre auditorium.

I can see exactly why they’re doing it, but I don’t honestly think you can do that to a traditional theatre and expect people to keep going to big expensive shows when the place stinks of spilt drinks and popcorn machines. You kind of have to have one or the other, or you have to put your foot down, and say yes we want to host the comedy and pop gigs because they keep the venue going, but we still aren’t going to sell fast food or allow patrons to drink at their seats like they’re at a bar.

HeySugarSugar · 27/04/2025 16:07

beAsensible1 · 27/04/2025 12:05

😂😂😂 you are very bloody rude.

performance and audience shouldn’t feel like a mausoleum. But keep up that attitude that’s why so much theatre can’t get any young people in and is suffering. Their audience continues to harbour people with nasty attitudes such as yourself

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Why the fuck is it nasty to want to enjoy the performance? What a bloody weird attitude. I was very young when I started going to the theatre - still knew how to behave. Dear god 🙄.

StMarie4me · 27/04/2025 16:07

Totally agree. Watched “Six” at Stoke last weekend… just in a very sad slow ballad there was almighty rustle and crunch over my left ear! It’s only 80 minutes long ffs!! Why the need to eat at all?!

katkintreats · 27/04/2025 16:10

URGH YANBU

Noisy food should not be allowed into theatres. I think this has happened because people who aren’t used to going to the theatre confuse the experience with going to the cinema.

Also though, theatres selling this stuff doesn’t help! I was in a West End theatre recently and they were selling huge bags of sweets in the bar. I can only assume they’re forced to do it because money is so very scarce in the arts these days.

Justfreedom · 27/04/2025 16:18

How about popcorn pix&mix and large drinks that we slurp up.
Why dont we just make it illegal to have fun.

nyancatdays · 27/04/2025 16:32

Justfreedom · 27/04/2025 16:18

How about popcorn pix&mix and large drinks that we slurp up.
Why dont we just make it illegal to have fun.

You’re unable to have fun for 45 minutes without eating or drinking something? Ice cream and a glass of wine in the interval is not enough fun?

Anyone who isn’t able to manage to not eat and drink for a short time while watching a performance has a serious problem, no?

Justfreedom · 27/04/2025 16:38

nyancatdays · 27/04/2025 16:32

You’re unable to have fun for 45 minutes without eating or drinking something? Ice cream and a glass of wine in the interval is not enough fun?

Anyone who isn’t able to manage to not eat and drink for a short time while watching a performance has a serious problem, no?

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I dont drink wine but i like ice-cream.
If im going out im going out to have fun if others dont like it thats on them knowing what these`s places are like.
If i have to sit 45-60 minutes sometimes near people with screaming kids or bright phones on why should i care about eating crisp.

HeySugarSugar · 27/04/2025 16:44

Justfreedom · 27/04/2025 16:38

I dont drink wine but i like ice-cream.
If im going out im going out to have fun if others dont like it thats on them knowing what these`s places are like.
If i have to sit 45-60 minutes sometimes near people with screaming kids or bright phones on why should i care about eating crisp.

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Ah that’s the attitude - “not my fucking problem I’ll do what I like”. 🙄

The fun is what we’re there to watch - since when has that needed to be accompanied by noisy snacks?

Lanzarotelady · 27/04/2025 16:47

Justfreedom · 27/04/2025 16:18

How about popcorn pix&mix and large drinks that we slurp up.
Why dont we just make it illegal to have fun.

Slurping is common!

Having basic manners is a million miles from not having fun!

JMSA · 27/04/2025 16:47

Completely agree! Some people should know their limitations and stick to the cinema.

Lanzarotelady · 27/04/2025 16:48

Justfreedom · 27/04/2025 16:38

I dont drink wine but i like ice-cream.
If im going out im going out to have fun if others dont like it thats on them knowing what these`s places are like.
If i have to sit 45-60 minutes sometimes near people with screaming kids or bright phones on why should i care about eating crisp.

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Because you are part of the problem!

You are as bad as they are, you are common and have no manners!

Why pay to go to see a performance if you want to eat crisps all through it??

Have some bloody manners

Lanzarotelady · 27/04/2025 16:51

Anyone who slurps, chomps, rustles paper, chats, in my opinion, should be flogged!

ilovemydogandmrobama2 · 27/04/2025 16:52

I'd pay extra for a food free performance.

Justfreedom · 27/04/2025 16:52

Lanzarotelady · 27/04/2025 16:48

Because you are part of the problem!

You are as bad as they are, you are common and have no manners!

Why pay to go to see a performance if you want to eat crisps all through it??

Have some bloody manners

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I can say the same with people and there phones on and kids that shout and scream yet mum and dad just sit and dont bat an eye.

Maitri108 · 27/04/2025 16:53

ilovemydogandmrobama2 · 27/04/2025 16:52

I'd pay extra for a food free performance.

I think they should have a choice. Some performances are food/drink/phone free and I would book those any time.

CalishataFolkart · 27/04/2025 16:54

Justfreedom · 27/04/2025 16:38

I dont drink wine but i like ice-cream.
If im going out im going out to have fun if others dont like it thats on them knowing what these`s places are like.
If i have to sit 45-60 minutes sometimes near people with screaming kids or bright phones on why should i care about eating crisp.

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There shouldn’t be screaming kids or people with bright phones either!

Incredible argument though - “here is a thing that is bad. I shall make it worse.”

For people wondering what the actors think of it - they also hate it. They can see you on your phone. They can hear you talking or rustling. They are very aware of repeated toilet visits. And for gods sake, if you have a cough, please don’t inflict it on everyone else

JMSA · 27/04/2025 16:54

Lanzarotelady · 27/04/2025 16:51

Anyone who slurps, chomps, rustles paper, chats, in my opinion, should be flogged!

🙌

Lanzarotelady · 27/04/2025 16:55

Justfreedom · 27/04/2025 16:52

I can say the same with people and there phones on and kids that shout and scream yet mum and dad just sit and dont bat an eye.

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They are doing it, so I am doing it........... what are you 5???

Grow up

Abra1t · 27/04/2025 16:59

I won't go to anything 'popular' if I can avoid it for this reason, at least in the first few months. Best venue is the Wigmore Hall, where they don't even like you turning the page of the programme or score unless it's at a place where the ensemble and conductor would be doing so. No annoying distractions.

I avoid most musicals and films for this reason, but would quite like to see Oliver!

QueefQueen80s · 27/04/2025 17:05

Grammarnut · 27/04/2025 14:19

My experience is different. One I visit fairly often allows you to take in the drink you bought during the interval, but in a plastic glass. Local art cinema allows glasses but no-one was eating crisps etc - I don't know if they allow food but I saw none - they have an onsight restaurant though. I can't think why you would want to eat while watching a play but I suppose it gives a sense of authenticity to Shakespeare and friends, since food, drinks, oranges etc were on sale during the original performances! Perhaps we have got a bit precious about theatres? I.e. I have thought about this a bit.)

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That’s good they are still around, I don’t need to eat there either but go to a lot of shows and don’t mind others doing it. The performers are loud enough to drown it out. The venues probably think that it won’t put people off enough that they stop coming, and also they make money off the food sales.
I think the complainers need to direct their ire to the venues. If food is for sale people will buy it, and are being actively encouraged to