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

Watching Of Mice and Men once, when I woman came in (late) and proceeded to open a family sized bag of kettle chips…

I don't understand your logic. Why would you make it harder for other people to enjoy a live performance? Children shouldn't be screaming (except children's performances or panto) and people shouldn't be on bright phones at the theatre or ballet. Cinema is rude enough if they're doing it without any care but at least it's expected that there will be snacks.

Upthread I agree with you. But a glass of wine carried from the bar is probably ok. Otherwise one would not have time to drink it. None of the venues I frequent smell of beer and none of them allow food in the auditorium.

And childfree

I've never been to a theatre performance with young children.

@coffeegirl73 Oh, I am 100% with you! I spent £100 on a ticket to see 'Wicked' a couple of months back. The show was great. The audience were appalling! As you say, crisp munching through multipack bags, people whispering (or full on talking!) walking in and out during the show meaning everyone in the row had to keep getting up and down, playing on their phones during the performance, and several members of the audience around me didn't deign to clap at the end! I was so disgusted.

Considering people can hear from 3 floors up someone having a sip of juice or a bite of a snack I think you’ll manage.

I wish people would stop saying that behaviour has got worse since Covid. People didn’t suddenly forget how to behave during Covid! There has been a steady decline in manners and consideration for others over the past 15/20 years. Society has become increasingly selfish and entitled. That is why Millennials are such an obnoxious generation of entitled snowflakes, and they are now introducing the next generation of selfish, self-important children, so things will only get worse.

A more neighbourly attitude does seem to still exist in smaller communities but in the cities, it’s a really unpleasant me, me, me attitude most of the time.