To be annoyed at disruption in a theatre show?

[shouldwejust]

I appreciate that this is a nuanced topic, and that there possibly isn’t a right answer.

Recently I went to watch a show in the theatre that I had been looking forward to for months. The tickets were my birthday present and something I can’t usually afford, so definitely a one off treat.

Throughout the whole show, a man who had severe disabilities was shouting out and yelling. He didn’t stop at all and continuously made very loud and disruptive noises.

It completely took me out of the show, meant I struggled to concentrate and was just annoyed!

I fully appreciate that everyone in society has a right to enjoy things, and perhaps this man was looking forward to the show just as much as me! But, I don’t think that it’s fair that he disrupted the show for the entire rest of the audience who had also paid a lot to be there.

I don’t know what the solution is to be perfectly honest. That his carer removed him when he was being disruptive? That he attended one of the “autism friendly” screenings that are expected to have more disruption?

When I said this to my partner he was shocked and said that basically we should just accept that our show was ruined for his enjoyment, as that is being inclusive. I don’t feel that inclusivity should come at the cost of everyone else?

I appreciate that I may be told I am being unreasonable here but I’d like to hear other people’s opinions here

I'm surprised no one complained to theatre staff if the behaviour was disruptive and not a medical episode. This is the same as people singing along at musicals when it's not a sing along performance. I've been at a theatre performance where a whole group of drunken people who couldn't watch quietly were thrown out.

Gosh that must have infuriated you.

It's good to have a thread to refer people to when they deny the blatant ableism on MN, so thanks for clarifying.

I'm just catching up with this thread and I'd say it's definitely the latter.

You’re very welcome my dear!

Absolutely!

3 of those are a choice, one is not.

Interesting choice to lump them all together.

Oh stop being dramatic. That's why there are relaxed performances, so that people with disabilities can go and it doesn't matter if they are loud and shouting out, because the performers and audience members know this will happen.

I would be annoyed if I went to the theatre and the performance was spoilt by a disabled person shouting out. They might not be able to help it but the carers/parents should have taken them out. Sick of people being selfish and spoiling others enjoyment, and I say this as a parent of a child with ASD.

It is not about which disabilities are "acceptable" to use your word. You can't lump people together, even if they have the same diagnosis.

It is about looking at each unique disabled person, their needs and limitations, and matching them to the experiences and places they will enjoy without causing detriment to other people.
Each person, each event, on a case-by-case basis.

This is of course an entirely different thing to requiring companies to make straightforward alterations that are to no-ones detriment, such as ramps and lifts.
(edited for typo)

@WillThingsEverBeFergaliciousAgain on the subject of inclusivity, do you believe that every theatrical performance should have someone signing at the side of stage throughout?

Sophistry of no interest to me. Feigning stupidity is the refuge of the obstructive.

It is always a risk. I'm amazed by how many people talk to each other at the cinema, opera and theatre. They are obviously couples who sit commentating in front of their TV and forget to ditch the habit when they go out. They don't have any excuse for their behaviour apart from total lack of self awareness.

I agree with you. I’m an avid theatre goer and this last year I have had a similar experience with someone making loud noises constantly, a man shouting out at the cast at inappropriate times and I had a woman sitting next me to me who constantly, violently shook her hands to the point my seat was moving.

very frustrating when you’ve paid a lot of money to enjoy it. I’m quite intolerant generally of poor theatre etiquette and think there should be more relaxed showings where it’s fine to make noise, scroll on on your phone, talk, incessantly rustle snack packets…..

I actually do, and I used to volunteer and do this for our local theatre company for their pantos.

These often have reduced lighting effects, house lights on half, so that people with assorted disabilities who can't cope with bright lights, louder noises, or make involuntary outbursts can attend without carers worrying about disturbing other patrons.

How can people who can't cope with louder noises share a screening with someone who makes involuntary outbursts? 'Assorted disabilities' is offensive on so many levels.

I'm 100% with you on this one. I had a similar evening of classical music with a live orchestra ruined by a similarly disabled person.

The rights of the individual should not override the rights of 100/1000 people around them to hear the music/show that they have paid to hear.

I didn't think you would be willing to put a name to them. No surprises there at all.

But the result is the same. It impacts on everyone else. This is a very specific event, where being quiet is necessary.

Why dont you just say “Ha! I win! Yaa boo sucks to you!” You know you want to…

That original post by @ColourThief and some of the others on here are ridiculous.

I work in the arts including at theatres and making experiences and venues inclusive to all is hugely challenging. Mainly because even if you forget about non-disabled people for a second and focus on the disabled and neurodiverse community there are so many conflicting access needs within that group.

Autistic and ND individuals might request lower lighting. Then those with visual impairments might want it brighter.

Someone with autism might rely on having quiet and protected personal space and knowing exactly what to expect from their trip to the theatre (which many venues will do by providing a clear guide) and imagine if they were then sat right next to someone like the individual from your performance. Who might have Tourettes for example and be shouting out or unintentionally moving into their personal space.

It's an absolute minefield. And tbh usually the best way of dealing with it is having performances catering to different needs e.g. the usual performance, a relaxed performance, performance for visually impaired audiences etc.

I suspect in this case, the staff would have been unsure what to do and how to approach asking the individual to leave.

If someone had an epileptic fit in a theatre and needed medical attention the lights would have to go up and the performance stopped, whereas if someone was shouting out the manager could have a quiet word and ask them to leave, so not really comparable.

And this is something that is always overlooked by the people shouting about inclusivity.

There are times where conflicting needs can’t both be met at the same time.

The person making noise could have gone to a relaxed performance. There aren’t equivalent options for those needing to avoid disruption.

It’s true. I was forced to accept that the majority of food in Rome excluded me as I can’t digest gluten. I guess I could have eaten it anyway then thrown up in the restaurants.

WillThingsEverBeFergaliciousAgain

Oh for crying out loud. Put the chip down.

I don't know whether it was a paid carer or a family carer, but the person was booked for an inappropriate performance. We don't know why, or what reasons they may have had for booking that performance in particular over another.

Your type of intransigence is ultimately counterproductive for disabled people's accessibility. If your posts are getting on my nerves, hell knows what kind of alienation you're perpetuating in other MNers.

Also, get in the real world. People with epilepsy do experience restrictions in attending events, so don't use people with epilepsy to make points. Not long back I was booking admission for someone with epilepsy and the office needed her to be over six months seizure free because of their insurance.

I have an severely autistic cousin. My partner's late brother had severe disabilities and made involuntary noises and tics. Don't tell me about what's an offensive term.

Very loud music or very loud electronic sounds can affect people in a totally different way to a person making involuntary noises.