Rude people in the theatre

[Katrinawaves]

What goes through people’s heads when they behave poorly in the theatre? We go quite regularly but it’s becoming more and more common to have people chat through the performance or arrive late or leave early.

Last night we went to see Punch at the Apollo which is a really emotionally challenging play which relies heavily on the audience investing in the main characters. There was a woman in the row behind us who had dropped her phone just as the play was starting and was loudly asking everyone around her if they had seen it over the top of the actors performing and moving around and craning in her seat. When she finally found her phone she didn’t bother switching it off, so of course mid way through the first act, it rang loudly and then she couldn’t find it again to silence it quickly so she swore loudly and huffed and puffed until she could! After the interval when she got back to her seat, she again chatted loudly to her companion for the first few minutes of the performance.

it’s so rude and disrespectful both to the performers but also to other theatre goers who have paid £150+ for a seat to watch the play not to listen to somebody’s mundane life dramas!

There was even a spoken announcement at the beginning of the show asking people not to talk or eat noisy food and to switch their phone off so in the unlikely event she didn’t know what normal social etiquette requires she was actually told seconds before she started to act like a toddler.

AIBU to think the theatre staff should ask anyone who makes such a disturbance in the first half of a play to leave at the interval as a deterrent to others and to ensure that they don’t spoil the whole play for others.

It’s easier said than done though. Many theatres /concert venues dont have security staff so the ushers would have to do it. Given the fact that a lot of theatre goers are pissed up these days it could be very initimidating.
The users/security also have to be made aware of the incidents too. Many disturbances are not immediately obvious beyond the people sat close to it , so the onus is on the other audience members. Mostly we just tut and mutter under our breaths don’t we rather than intervene.

I don’t think it’s price so much though as I often pay £15 for a standing ticket for the Royal Ballet and can see several different casts that way. For the quality there, it’s amazing value!
Incidentally I was honestly horrified when the ROH lessened their ban on ice creams in the auditorium for the nutcracker (and possibly all family shows?). They really must not lessen their stance on food and drink in general or I will lose my haven of civilisation 😆

It’s so expensive I don’t know how anyone wants to purchase more than one😀

I didn’t take my children to the Royal Opera House until they were six or so and then for the next four years+, we only got box seats. That way, if the youngest needed to wriggle (she was always quiet!) she could drop to the floor or walk to the back of the box and not disturb anyone at all.
The little one is now training to be a professional ballerina 🩰

Box prices have drastically increased since then so if it were now, I just wouldn’t be able to go as I wouldn’t want them to disturb anyone.

I’m very easily distracted and cannot switch off when I hear something annoying. I once had someone loudly eating popcorn right behind me, throughout an entire play - they totally ruined it for me.

I don't go to evening performances any more, unless it's completely unavoidable. I've found behaviour is better at a matinee - probably because half the audience haven't come from the pub!

Pressed the wrong bloody voting thing OP! Sorry! You are definitely NOT being unreasonable. Bad theatre behaviour is making going to see performances much less enjoyable than it was.

Yes, but with standing tickets you don't have a particularly good view anyway, and the people in those seats tend to be ballet-lovers or dance students who know how to behave at the theatre. We've bought reasonably-priced tickets before, but the ones we had the other day certainly weren't, so if we'd paid £££ each, then the annoying person in front of me must have paid the same. I am not going to fork out for fantastically expensive really good seats to have some selfish twat spoil my evening.

I think this is really poor of Stratford personally. A babe in arms is inclusive, but stepping outside until they stop crying is hardly unreasonable and is the fairest thing for the performers. You can even watch it on the TV screen in the bar.

I agree

I was at a small theatre in the front row last week. The person next to me ate a bag of crisps noisily. Beef flavoured by the smell of it. Then, I shit you not, she got out an apple and chomped her way through that. We were literally a meter away from the actors. It ruined the show for me

So in your world it’s acceptable to have someone slobbering, chomping, slurping inches from your own face as long as it’s not for the whole duration of the film? Zero tolerance from me I’m afraid for this gross anti social behaviour assaulting my senses. Surely people can be mindful of their impact on others in such a confined space? Or maybe stuffing their greedy faces is always the priority. Vile.

I go to the theatre most weeks and really wish front of house would address issues rather than ignoring them. I've politely asked people to remove sunglasses from their heads twice this summer and both times got abuse back. I waited until the interval to say anything to avoid disturbing others. Not only does it block the view of those behind but the lights glare off them. People who lean on the front of the circle, people talking and singing during shows, phones going off, noisy food, smart watches flashing, reading A3 programmes high in the air during the show, countless toilet breaks when seated in central areas are so distracting. So many people are so defensive of their own rights and don't care about others.

One of the things I can’t understand is why the theatres and cinemas sell crisps, sweets and chocolates in plastic bags that make such a lot of noise!!

How is it unacceptable / “vile” if you’re buying and consuming something that the venue sells?

Don’t go to the venue if it bothers you that much

I do think the Everyman is a different case, everyone knows that there will be food and drink delivered and it's easy enough to avoid it if that's not your thing.

It would be far better if the venue didn’t sell hot smelly stuff. Or at least only sold it to be eaten outside the screen.

This thread is reminding me why I don’t go to cinemas. Or theatres.

Then people should pass that feedback on to them, rather than complaining if people choose to buy and consume something that the venue sells

Actually, I've recently found matinees much worse - older people loudly discussing the plot, complaining about the seats and rustling sweets. No awareness of other people around them.

As I said in my original post - I absolutely don’t go to The Everyman for this very specific reason.

It’s gross to have someone slobbering, slurping and chomping on smelly hot food right next to your face in such a confined space when you are trying to immerse yourself and concentrate on a film.

I had an experience at a recent theatre matinee that makes me laugh whenever I think of it.
I went very early because I love front row and it was free seating. There was a lady who arrived and chose the far end of the second row and as she walked along behind us she properly bashed every single one of us oldies in the head with her massive bag. Not a small knock. But clumped every single person’s head. And didn’t seem to notice. No apology or moving the bag away. It was a huge backpack type of thing but so strange that she wouldn’t feel that force as it connected with people. She had a good time anyway! And I did see the comedy in it.

£150 a ticket?!

I think I paid about £20 to see Punch at Nottingham Playhouse.

Lucky you. West End tickets are more expensive than provincial rep though and these were also good stalls seats so that’s what they set us back.

YANBU

Anyone near me being noisy gets told to be quiet.

You’re right, OP. It’s rude to the performers, the audience, and the staff. Some people seem to count a day without making a situation thoroughly unpleasant for others as a day wasted.