I really should learn my lesson and stay away from Liverpool theatre venues.

As a very regular theatre goer who visits establishments all over the UK, it is interesting to note the differences in audience behaviour.

I will warn you now, many Liverpool audience members have absolutely no idea whatsoever of theatre etiquette. They show no respect or consideration for others around them and are actually very rude and bad mannered.

Tonight was the worst behaviour I have ever experienced and subsequently I have written a letter of complaint to the establishment concerned.

Liverpool you should be ashamed. I was disgusted by the MANY infantile and pathetic individuals who absolutely ruined tonights show for traditional considerate theatre goers like myself AND the actors who had to put up with childish comments, whistling, belching and generally loud raucous behaviour that prevented us hearing what they were saying.

On the contrary I have found audiences in London, the West Midlands and Manchester to be (on the whole) better.

What show was this?

Depends on the Venue - at the Everyman & Playhouse & Unity I have never had a problem at the Empire is another story completely!

Do you often visit Liverpool theatres? Is this a recurring issue, or have you only witnessed it this one time? Is it just one venue, or is it spread across the entire city? Because I'm pretty sure that one terrible evening does not a city of terrible people make.

I've always had a problem at the Royal Court Liverpool with bad audiences and I partly put that down to the amount of alcohol you are allowed to buy to drink during a performance.

It seems to be that audiences at the Royal Court have no respect for the actors on stage or the other members of the audience who don't want to hear comments shouted out or talking during the show.

I know the Royal Court puts on some very popularist shows like Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels and people who wouldn't normally go to the theatre book to see these shows but they could have a little courtsey for the people around them.

I was at the performance of Kes yesterday and I have to agree that the behaviour of some of the audience members was appalling. However considering 50% of the audience was made up of school parties it was only a very small miniority that caused the problem. This minority did not seem to know the correct way to behave in a theatre and seemed to have no respect for their fellow audience members or the actors on stage. However to make a generalized comment about all Liverpool audiences is just silly. I have seen hundreds of plays in Liverpool and this is the only time that I have experienced a problem.
On the plus side I thought the show was excellent. Maybe just book your tickets on a Friday or Saturday night when the school parties are away!!

How dare you? I find what you have written very offensive... I am from Liverpool and have attended a lot of theatre performances over the years in both that city and others. It is a shame that you had such a bad experience in Liverpool but to say 'I will warn you now, many Liverpool audience members have absolutely no idea whatsoever of theatre etiquette. They show no respect or consideration for others around them and are actually very rude and bad mannered' is a massive generalization and rude. I have witnessed many experiences in theatres in London and other parts of the country that resemble what you have described and it is not particular to one city... You need to think about what you are saying, you are essentially criticising me and I know I behave perfectly well in a theatre as do the people I go to the theatre with.

I think you took Muppet's post in the wrong way. He said 'many' not all to begin with and he was in no way criticising you but those in the population of what ever show he saw last night. I haven't seen any shows in Liverpool so I cannot comment on the correctness of his post but 'guest' you need to read things carefully. It would have been different if he said 'all' but he didn't.

Quite so. I don't live in Liverpool but I have been to the theatre there often enough over the years to know that Muppet's experience is far from typical. Anyway, it's not clear why Muppet couldn't have made these comments in the existing (and lengthy!) 'Badly-behaved audiences' thread - that would have avoided the suggestion of general criticism of theatre-goers in Liverpool in the ill-judged heading used here.

I thought this might stimulate some comments! I should probably address some of them!

'Courfeyrac' - It was 'Kes' at the Liverpool Playhouse.

'Laughingmonsta' - I have had a number of negative experiences at the Liverpool Empire with rude, disrespectful & inconsiderate members of the audience. I turned around and expressed my frustration at a group of girls who were talking almost non-stop on one occasion and got a mouthful of abuse back. Last week I was at the Royal Court twice, because of the nature of the show (Our Day Out) it didn't matter so much that there was quite a lively atmosphere in the place.

'Weez' - Yes, I have visited Liverpool theatre venues many times over the last few years and yes it is a recurring issue.

'Becki' - I can understand what you say about the Royal Court. I was quite surprised by their very relaxed attitude to drinking alcohol in your seats! Without meaning to be judgemental, I would say, correct me if I'm wrong, that the audience did not appear to be stereotypically middle-class like in many (including other Liverpool) theatre / arts venues.

'music man' - It seems we were both at the same performance - and this was the one I was referring to. It appears you have been very lucky if you have not had any other bad experiences at Liverpool arts venues, because I have been to dozens of shows and have experienced many examples of poor behaviour from other audience members over the years.

'guest' - Last night it was MANY people. On another occasion last year I counted just under 100 people who got up and walked directly in front of me at a family show at the Empire theatre. It seems that they couldn't last an hour without a toilet break. One or two may be understandable, but 100?! Young people need to be taught appropriate behaviour and respect for others. I still stick by what I say and I'm sorry you find it personally offensive, but perhaps you may be one of the exceptions to the rule. In fact a young lady sitting near me last night commented "people like them give Liverpool a bad name!". She was so right, they do - and nothing will ever change unless more people complain and stand up against these mindless idiots who ruin it for decent people.

'Manda' - I don't make these comments without giving them thought and feeling as if I have good justification for making them. I have seen over 250+ theatre productions. I have also organised trips for large groups of Merseyside young people to the theatre. I have made sure I have spent time teaching my young people expected behaviour and respect for others before their visit. I, thankfully, have had good experiences to date with my young people and hope that this will continue to be the case.
From my substantial experience, there are a much larger percentage of ruder, inconsiderate and disrespectful individuals in Liverpool audiences than any in other parts of the country I have visited. This is a fact.



Please keep your comments / experiences coming....! I know not everyone likes what I say, but I'm originally from Liverpool too and I'm ashamed by these groups who ruin the city's reputation.

I'm from Liverpool and have been going to shows there for years and never found audiences any ruder than in other cities. The Empire isn't a very good venue for shows anyway... [popcorn and burgers DO NOT HELP though]. The Royal Court allow too much drinking to be consumed, but then it's usually comedy or whatever in there so doesn't effect the performance as much IMO.

But The Playhouse and Everyman I can't fault. There's always going to be a school party, or hen night, an will ruin your evening. But I have to say, many of my more 'rude audience shows' I've been to have been in London.

My bad experiences with Liverpool have always been at the Empire - the staff seem lacklustre at helping or keeping any trouble down, The Audiences tend to think they are watching TV and thin they can heckle the show, However I was at the Playhouse last night watching KES and the audience was perfect, I tend to think it has a lot to do with the show on offer though! IE no shows being sold on Reality TV Stars!

Looks like I went on the wrong night then!!