1858 replies to this topic

[craftymiss]

My kids have been going to the theatre since they were 2yrs old.  Apart from Pantos where everyone gets a bit excited my kids behave impecably; I wouldnt allow them not to. They are now 14, 16 & 17 and often comment on the poor behaviour of other children in theatres. My middle child has told people to 'shush' before; they always seem surprised that a child is telling someone to be quiet, but he's of the opinion that the tickets cost money & therefore we should be able to enjoy the show

[Tettekete]

A few months ago at Wicked, I was sitting in the middle of the front row of the stalls with my sister. During Act 2, the woman next to me pulled out her ipad and proceeded to blind me with the screen. During No Good Deed, I might add. Just... why?

[armadillo]

Tettekete, on 23 September 2012 - 01:55 PM, said:

A few months ago at Wicked, I was sitting in the middle of the front row of the stalls with my sister. During Act 2, the woman next to me pulled out her ipad and proceeded to blind me with the screen. During No Good Deed, I might add. Just... why?

Presumably you just asked her to switch it off - no problem. It's when a phone / ipad is just out of reach that it's causes hassle. You did ask her to switch it off, didn't you? Otherwise I imagine the song was ruined for the entire circle.

[Gavin]

I know you don't expect a proper 'theatre' audience at rock of ages but yesterday evening I had two ladies next to me, one who was translating the show to her friend at full volume. Then two German guys behind me who were repeating every joke and just having constant full volume conversations despite me turning around and asking them to be quiet. SO annoying.

[wickedlover]

Thursday I was at both Shrek and Wicked.

At Shrek, I had an Indian family in the row behind me who just continued to talk, at least 5 people asked them to be quiet, but each time they were only quiet for a couple of minutes, and then started chatting again.  A FOH member also asked them to stop talking, but they just kept chatting to each other...they had also been shopping and had big boxes sitting on their laps, and anytime they moved we got hit on the back of the head....not good, and quite rude.

At Wicked, a woman behind me wouldn't stop singing along, it was very distracting. I had my friend with me seeing the show for her first time, and she said it ruined the night for her, again even after politely asking to stop singing, she continued. No offense, I paid to listen to Rachel Tucker sing Defying Gravity not some random (and slightly out of tune) audience member.

People really do not consider the other audience member around them.

[Courfeyrac]

Saw last weeks Wednesday matinee of 20th Century Boy at Coventry's Belgrade Theatre.

Perfect behaviour from the twenty or so people in the circle but not so much from one of the followspot operators in a box on the same level who spent all the quiet bits of the show, when his services weren't required, rustling his rather loud packet of sweets and more engaged with his distracting, bright mobile phone.

So it's not just audiences who lack a little theatre etiquette....

[Richey]

At JCS on Sunday (arena not quite the same as a theatre I know) two empty seats next to me until half way through the first act when a couple arrived late. They then proceeded to chat through most of the songs and were the first to leave as soon as the music stopped. They returned just as Act two was about to start laden with drinks and again chatted loudly especially during Gethsamene, totally unaware of the glares from myself and the surrounding people. I really cdon't know why people bother spending what was quite a large sum of money for seats when they then show very little interest in the show!

[armadillo]

Richey, on 02 October 2012 - 12:24 PM, said:

At JCS on Sunday (arena not quite the same as a theatre I know) two empty seats next to me until half way through the first act when a couple arrived late. They then proceeded to chat through most of the songs and were the first to leave as soon as the music stopped. They returned just as Act two was about to start laden with drinks and again chatted loudly especially during Gethsamene, totally unaware of the glares from myself and the surrounding people. I really cdon't know why people bother spending what was quite a large sum of money for seats when they then show very little interest in the show!

Presumably you asked them to be quiet and alerted an usher, if not during the first half, during the interval? If not, why not?

[igb]

Twelfth Night, RSC, tonight.  A big school night, which meant that about half the audience were excited teenagers, many of them young men with hipster glasses.

Not a phone, not a noise, not a disturbance: just quick, appropriate laughter and massive applause.  They had a great evening, and were a credit to their schools.  I hope they'll be back:  the RSC needs their youth.

Meanwhile, around me, the RSC elderly contingent were their usual boorish selves.  The bloke behind me said "here comes a good bit" before, well, the good bits, and then followed each scene with a judgement as to whether it was up to the standards of other TNs he'd seen.  A group to my side cooed over each entrance and excitedly told each other what was happening on stage.  And a group to the other side "whispered" (being deaf, this was what most of us would call "shouted") plot points to each other.  One of them was loudly complaining about the place being full of "children" --- next time, dearie, why don't you shut up, look around you, and behave as well as those "children", not like the noisy, ignorant sods you were sat with.

[Duncan]

igb, on 02 October 2012 - 10:26 PM, said:

Twelfth Night, RSC, tonight.  A big school night, which meant that about half the audience were excited teenagers, many of them young men with hipster glasses.

Not a phone, not a noise, not a disturbance: just quick, appropriate laughter and massive applause.  They had a great evening, and were a credit to their schools.  I hope they'll be back:  the RSC needs their youth.

Meanwhile, around me, the RSC elderly contingent were their usual boorish selves.  The bloke behind me said "here comes a good bit" before, well, the good bits, and then followed each scene with a judgement as to whether it was up to the standards of other TNs he'd seen.  A group to my side cooed over each entrance and excitedly told each other what was happening on stage.  And a group to the other side "whispered" (being deaf, this was what most of us would call "shouted") plot points to each other.  One of them was loudly complaining about the place being full of "children" --- next time, dearie, why don't you shut up, look around you, and behave as well as those "children", not like the noisy, ignorant sods you were sat with.

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