Inconsiderate behaviour in theatres

Saw red autowonk at its finest!

I remember a year or two pre pandemic I had gone to the cinema with my two young girls and my mom. In front of us was a group of 7/8 teen boys. I can’t remember what we were watching but they were chatting. The people in front of them had asked them to be quiet with no luck then my mom did_polietly. She was told to f* off. I’m afraid I sore red and stood up full force all 5ft of me and loudly said “Don’t you dare speak to my mother like that who the hell do you think you are. Be quiet or get out”.
It kinda worked. Two of them scuttled off the remainder were as quiet as mice.
The usher approached at the end with free tickets for a return show too. Bonus!
We shouldn’t need to go to these lengths the ushers should have greater powers to remove noisy and inconsiderate patrons from theatre and cinema but again there’s pit falls with that too!

I think it was a big mistake when theatres allowed food and drink in the auditorium. I can’t understand why people pay so much money for a theatre ticket and then spend time looking at their phones. I suppose they do it at home whilst watching programmes on TV, but they clearly have never been taught theatre ‘etiquette’.

Going to the cinema I love. We tried this week but unfortunately it was a bit of a drama , wrong movie etc. All husband's fault.
Hopefully we can go in two weeks to see the latest Marvel
However the one and only place I have popcorn is the cinema. It is all part of the excitement. Husband has a choc top and we are happy cinema goers

I went to the cinema a few weeks ago with my son. I am 5ft2, and well on the plump side. A 'large' family came in, had tickets directly behind us and a bag for life - full of food. The first 10 minutes of the film 'were do you want Coke or Tango? Nachos or crisps? Fruit chews or chocolate peanuts? On and on...then sat talking over the dialogue...it was a weekday morning and we moved as far as possible away from them. So self centered.

I remember when going to the theatre was very special and you would dress up to go no jeans then!

On a London theatre trip in the 60s with another family my mother was horrified when the other family peeled hard boiled eggs in the interval!

We hardly ever go to the theatre or cinema now, partly due to the behavour of others. They even seem to have things fried in hot oil and the smell of frying is horrible.

nothing new about this... been like this in cinemas and I would think even in Shakespeare`s day.

This really annoys me too. Why do people pay money to go to these places and then chat no stop. Winds me up no end.

Yes gangs of schoolkids at plays have become a bloody nuisance. Their teachers seem to have no authority over them and they just ruin the performance for the rest of the audience.

Theatre tickets are expensive so I was annoyed when my DD and I went to see The Woman in Black which is a supernatural story.
About ten teenage girls and their teacher came to sit behind us and completely ruined the atmosphere with loud giggling and talking throughout the whole play.
They ignored the teacher and everyone else who asked them to be quiet.

Nutter!? I hate knowing anything about a film before I watch it. I've been known to hum to myself with my fingers in my ears, over the forth coming attractions shown before any film starts!
Much to the consternation of my husband. I'm sure people around me think I'm the Nutter then???

I did think to but they arrived just before it started so there was little time. We locked eyes as they walked up the aisle looking for their seats. Think I was in shock hoping they woukd carry on walking. ....
I am sure they woukd have been ok, but didnt want to offend them. Truly they were as wide as they were tall, giant rectangles, the biggest people i think i have ever seen.

Silverlining48 MrA and I are reasonably tall, or would seem to be to many of the 5ft 2in GNners, so you probably wouldn't like sitting behind us. We don't inspect the people around us, so would have no idea if someone small was sitting behind us. However, if someone tapped us on the shoulder and asked nicely if we would change seats so they could see we would be happy to do it. Maybe give it a try next time - all the people could say is 'no' but you may be pleasantly surprised.

*there were

I often go to the cinema alone. One time my seat was next to a woman and her two teenage children. As we were waiting for the film to begin she started to explain the entire plot to her kids in a loud voice. When I protested that I didn't want to hear it as otherwise there would be no point in staying to watch it she was most affronted. Luckily therefore plenty of empty seats so I moved as far away from them as possible. Nutter.

I havnt been to a theatre or cinema fir over 3 years. The last time we had expensive London tickets in the aisle.. I am short and was happy the seats in front were empty but then came a couple, the biggest tallest I have ever seen. I was in shock as they completely obscured my view. Even obscured the aisle.

I had to just listen and spent my time wishing I had the courage or they had the consideration to offer to swop seats. It was really disappointing. I pretended it was a radio show,

Not being sizest here, as I am a rolly polly but am a tiny rolly polly, who doesn’t obscure even an 8 year olds view.

Tall people be aware that short ones behind you can’t see a thing. That’s my gripe fir the day.

Ashcombe

The amount of snacks consumed by participants on Gogglebox presumably reflects life in front of the TV which some people think is appropriate in theatres, etc. At our amateur theatre, patrons who arrive after curtain up are shown to seats at the back of the auditorium by the FoH Manager and advised to wait until the interval to claim their booked seats.

Yes I used to work in a theatre and that's how it worked. There was no way latecomers were allowed wander around looking for their seats and disturbing everyone.

The amount of snacks consumed by participants on Gogglebox presumably reflects life in front of the TV which some people think is appropriate in theatres, etc. At our amateur theatre, patrons who arrive after curtain up are shown to seats at the back of the auditorium by the FoH Manager and advised to wait until the interval to claim their booked seats.

I don't understand the constant eating either but for some people it's an essential part of the 'experience'. A bar of chocolate or packet of sweets isn't enough, it has to be the dreaded nachos along with a bucket of coke that has to be slurped down to the last ice cube.

I think twice when I see a show advertised, and invariably decide not to go nowadays, for all the reasons above.
I do go to the cinema still, but generally book a quiet time of day.
Sometimes I go to the 'live' opera or ballet concerts that our cinema show.
The seats are more up to date than the lovely old theatres generally have, so are more comfortable!
Not so busy generally, so less disruption.
If I could stop any one behaviour, it would be eating at the cinema. The smell is atrocious, and AC sends it all around the auditorium.
I dont know when society became so infantalised that people had to have something in their mouth all the time?

That would be so annoying Harrigran. I would have said something.

Pepper59 I have done the Shh! thing.

Management need to take control.
I have moved seats in cinema because of crisp crunching and sweets being unwrapped continually. I only take water to the cinema.

GD went to see Fantastic beasts last week and she was te.ling me that the lady in front of her spent the entire 2.5 hours performance on her phone. Why go to the cinema and sit on your phone ?
The last time I was in a theatre it was ruined by people standing up and singing along, I do not pay good money to hear some amateur squawking.

We look up the cinema to see how many bookings there are before we book seats. We don't go often but when we do we try to get a morning showing when there are fewer people it's usually quiet and free from the dreaded nachos.