To think musicals need to control their volume more?

[Jane379]

I went to Hadestown recently and loved it, but hadn't been to a musical for several years and was really shocked at how loud it was. I hadn't brought any earplugs and was reduced to physically plugging my ears to dim the sound a little.
Is this new? Or have musicals always been this loud and I'm remembering poorly? And if so, surely they need to be quieter? There's no need to be that loud & hearing loss causes lots of problems no-one needs.

Hmmmm I'm not sure. I've never found musicals to be overly loud but then I like loud rock music so my eardrums may be a bit shot

It might be better to remember your earplugs than expect a reduction in volume.

Having said that, I've been in theatres before were staff were giving out free earplugs to anyone who requested them.

I felt the same at Wicked. It was terribly screechy and just too loud. I’ve been to loads of musicals and no others have been like that.

But why should they be that loud in the first place? I should add that I was in the stalls fairly near the front (this was the Lyric theatre, it was a fairly compact stage). There's no need- cinemas are supposed to control their volume & so should theatres.

I’ve seen Hadestown several times and never noticed it being particularly loud. I do sit on the first circle for a better view though. Mind you, the volume comes from mics and speakers so that shouldn’t make a difference.

I haven’t noticed it at other West End musicals either.

I didn't find it particularly loud.

I haven't seen any musicals in a while, but went to the cinema a couple of times in the last year or two and never again!!! It was so loud I almost left.
There really is no need for such excessive volume levels. I used to go regularly in my teens/twenties but not since then and it sure will not be repeated.
If anything, my hearing is worse now then it used to be and it was still far too loud.

Are you normally sensitive to noise?

I have always found the cinema to be unnecessarily loud but never the actual theatre.

I wonder if you were sat particularly close to a speaker?

I do find that, now that all the performers wear microphones, theatre in general is too loud, and musicals particularly.

I always find the cinema uncomfortably loud too. It’s one of the reasons I barely go!

I have read a bit about this...mainly US articles, but the points may apply elsewhere. The argument is that with the rise of TV with adjustable volume, people began to expect louder volume in theatres so musicals became louder. Rock musicals also demanded more amplification of singers' voices.
Neither should necessitate excessively loud volume though. What's the point?

I have wondered about this in recent years. I have on several occasions popped in my ear pods to dull the volume while still listening at cinema or concerts. I thought it was just me getting older 😂

There was an article in the Telegraph about this the other day. Hopefully the link works!
Microphones are ruining the West End. Since when did theatre become a rock gig?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/46cf314ed7dd8590