AIBU to think that it’s annoying and sad state of affairs that people can’t stay off their phone at the theatre?

[Ridingaroundonbuses]

And not understand how it can impact on other people’s enjoyment of whatever they have gone to see?

Should there be repercussions for such behaviour like theatres having the power to ask people to leave and that they not get a refund?

It's really sad and disrespectful to the actors. I've complained about it numerous times.

I’m on a cruise at the moment, there was a mandatory safety drill at the beginning. The captain asked people to put their phones away whi,e th3 drill was going on, but lots of people just ignored him and went on looking at their phones. What is wrong with people?

It’s really annoying. I had a guy check his Apple Watch every couple of minutes throughout a play recently. It lit up,so brightly 😡

I think they should be taken out and shot.

Last time I was at the theatre in London, there was a young guy in front of me who was on his laptop at several times during the performance!!

It’s so rude and annoying.

I’m sure I read that Madonna was on her laptop during Hamilton and when she asked to come backstage Lin-Manuel Miranda said no! Good for him.

When we went to see HP and the Cursed Child last year some women turned up late and then kept getting their phones out. They were told that if they got them out again they would be asked to leave.

Smart watches are equally annoying. The bright screen catches my eye and I find it so distracting.

I was so irritated when I went to the Lyric Hammersmith recently. The young man next to me kept looking at his phone - the light in the corner of your eye is so distracting.

Neanderthal fuckwits.

Just shows how bad it's become dosent it, people are addicted and it's made them selfish.

I do wonder why people bother going to the theatre only to spend it on their gadgets. What a waste of money.

It is INCREDIBLY annoying! I've had enough of it at the theatres and the pictures. More recently, I've even noticed people looking at their phones in church... and this isn't just the congregation 😮This may be my deciding factor why I should not be baptised into this religion!

I’m pretty much addicted to my phone but I wouldn’t do that. So rude. Unless it’s boring and I want to check the time, which I guess is quite bad too. But I would never text or scroll anything

See also: eating family bags of crisps, going to the bar every five minutes, then needing to go to the toilet every five minutes, opening cans, explaining the plot...

I've given up. It's a lot of expense and I haven't had one thing not ruined in a long time.

I do have the Bible on my phone though...

It's disrespectful and selfish. What on earth is the point of paying out money to sit in a theatre if you're going to spend your time on your phone? Stay at home and stop annoying the actors and other members of the audience.

It should be no phones etc or items with lights. It’s basic politeness. In the cinema I have my phone on silent and check it once the film has finished. I’ve not been to the theatre for ages but would do the same.

I completely agree. I go to the theatre quite often and I can’t recall the last time someone’s phone didn’t make a noise. It’s absolutely pathetic.

Switch it off. If you need to be contactable at all times, you shouldn’t be in a theatre.

Same with the cinema. It is incredibly distracting for the other people there.

I’ve been going to more recently that have been no phones allowed, at several different venues, and it’s lovely. Maybe it’s changing?

I put my phone on silent and check it during the interval.

But I have been hearing that some theatres are thinking about introducing Yondr pouches for spectators!

Ooh, where? @Disturbia81 I want them to announce it before the curtain goes up, all phones away and you’ll be asked to leave if you take a phone out. Nip outside for a quick check in with a babysitter or similar urgent situation, if you must, but do not go on your phone during the performance and stop checking your watch every time it lights up, ffs. I think you should be made to go outside at the interval too, like you would do for a cigarette- leave the rest of us to enjoy chatting at the interval, rather than having you next to us having your needy scroll through social media.

So the alhambra in bradford has signs up and also did an announcement over the speakers beforehand, one person had their phone out at one point and the staff quickly told them to turn it off.
Leeds grand theatre was the same and had staff dotted about next to the aisles to spot anyone with it out.
And leeds city varieties had signs up too.
I can’t remember with West Yorkshire playhouse but I don’t remember seeing anyone on phones

Drives me mad in cinema the bright light beaks your connection to the film.

It's pathetic, and it's very hard to manage for theatre staff too.

The light from checking the time can be really distracting if it's in someone's eyeline.