Standing ovation in a theatre

[Ginburee]

Last night I went with a friend on a very very rare night to the theatre (2:22).
I have wanted to go for ages and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I am plus size and have rather a sore tail bone after a slightly enthusiastic waterside incident with the smalls last week.
In an old theatre sitting at the back of the smalls with a big guy in front of me so I had to lean made it quite painful.
As soon as the lights came on about 3/4 of the audience stood to clap- is this really necessary as I couldn't stand due to discomfort and people pushing past and I couldn't see the cast at all.
When did this beco.e a thing?

Sorry that you are in pain. That's sound awful.
Were they excitable Americans? Or was there a celebrity on stage? Both generate exuberance.
Orherwise...not seen it.
Was it a good show, otherwise?

This is definitely a thing now. Seems to have started in the last few years.

It’s now a v common thing. Perhaps moreso in west end type shows (with a singalong!) but have also seen it across the board in genre, style and scale of theatre.

It’s become very common - pretty much every West End musical plus plays with a celebrity casting. IMO it should only be for truly exceptional theatre. While I’m fully able-bodied and can stand fine, I get annoyed when people start standing up for a production that definitely isn’t a 5 star show, and I generally stay seated, accepting that means I won’t see the bows.

Unfortunately it has become a very prevalent nuisance.

Along with peeps who can’t survive until the interval without drinks, chocolates, popcorn, water bottles……. Not to mention checking their bloody phones… 😡

Yeah - it was always 'a thing'. Not anything new at all.

A standing ovation !! Hoorah!

I often stand to applaud a particularly good performance. I’ve been going to the theatre for years and it’s always happened.

It’s nothing new if something is exceptional. I go often and have done for decades and it’s always been the case for (I would estimate) 10%-20% of shows.

I think it’s become much more common recently. Almost every performance I’ve been to in the last few years has had an element of standing ovation, not necessarily the whole audience. I agree that it tends to be in West End productions.

I find it annoying. I’m happy to stand if it’s outstanding but not just for a standard performance. I think it’s becoming’a thing’ and audiences think you have to stand.

I'm convinced it's all the tall people who are dying to stretch their legs. I always join in

Standing ovations are not new, but were previously given at exceptional productions. What is new is that they happen all the time now. And not just for musicals or celebrity casting. Ive seen them at pretty much every mediocre production Ive seen in the last couple of years.

perhaps the audience think it was exceptional
i very much enjoyed the last thing i saw in the West End
i rarely go

Like others I agree it's become a thing to stand for every single production going, I love to do a standing ovation when I'm absolutely compelled to because the production was outstanding it brings me to my feet but am very crotchety and grumpy and say sat down normally whilst everyone is on their feet for most productions. Standing seems to be the new clapping...

A lot of 'juke box' musicals encourage standing at the end as they start dancing and celebrating as they do the bows. They allow filming of the bows as well - so standing becomes the norm in those situations. I think it's a way to try to stop people trying to film the show covertly - as they know they can get their phones out and film at the end.
I stand at the end if I feel the performance warrants it - saw Evita in the West End a couple of weeks ago and the standing ovation went on for at least 5-6 minutes - but that was definitely deserved - the performances from all the cast were superb!

Do you mean during the performance? That is new and really annoying.

If at the end, it's been happening since I was a child and I'm over 50.

I love a standing ovation. As an audience and then as a theater maker too. Im sorry you were uncomfortable.

It is a normal theatre thing, maybe they enjoyed it more than you? Don’t understand the pushing though if everyone has their own seat? It’s just one of those parts of the experience you can’t control like if someone really tall happens to sit in front of you.

yabu for using ‘smalls’ I genuinely thought you meant knickers the first time 😅 hope your back is better soon.

They are "given" more often than they used to be.

You may/may not agree that the performance deserved a standing ovation, that's fine - don't stand then.

but you are very very unreasonable to expect everyone else around you to not give their standing ovation during applause because you've hurt your back.

“At the back of the smalls” 😂

Grant Stott gets this every year in Panto season 😂

It has been happening g for years. One of the pleasures of live performance is that the audience can show their appreciation. The mood of the audience can make a huge difference to the experience. An enthusiastic audience is always better which is why matinees sometimes seem a bit flat compared to evening performances. A few glasses of wine gets the crowd going.

Regular theatregoer here. Yup, it seems to have become a thing over the last few years and not just in the West End - it happened at Nye at the National Theatre a few weeks ago. It really irritates me, especially since if you don't join in you can't actually see anything of the curtain call. It does however mean you are poised to make a speedy exit once the curtain call has finished...

It’s a gesture of appreciation.

I really don't understand the issue. Just stay sat on your seat?
I think it's nice for the cast, they're often underpaid and work long hours, seeing the joy of the audience can only make them feel better.

A standing ovation isn’t new! They may now be more common. Just stand up to see