Inconsiderate behaviour in theatres

Just back from the cinema (Operation Mincemeat) we became aware of a man's voice droning on. A lady harrumphed loudly to him but to no effect then another man shouted loudly, 'Shut up'! That worked. I've no idea why the droner was talking in the first place but it was very intrusive and he was sitting many rows in front of us. We were all very grateful for the intervention from the other man.

Women behind me coughing her way through live performance at amateur theatre group show, three days later I tested positive for covid. Inconsiderate in more ways than one!

We go ab little further and pay a little more to go to the cinema with the reclining seats. You don't feel as near to your neighbour as they have wide arms and there's enough room in front of each row so that no one has to get up for latecomers. Yes they still disturb others but can get to their seats more quickly.

DS is disabled so doesn't do edging along to get to a seat so we try to book at the end of a row in a conventional theatre.

The last time I went to a theatre performance I was quite shocked at how people were allowed to come in during the performance and were opening noisy sweets and even talking.
I’ve been to the opera at Covent Garden quite a few times and that’s a different ball game. If you so much as adjust your position in your seat you’re going to get someone waggling a finger at you and if god forbid you clear your throat, you run the risk of someone taking you out lol ?

Totally agree with you, I have found this more so at a concert or gig, people up/down in/out of their seats to go get more beer etc. these rows of seats are so narrow meaning people have to keep moving for these people who are so selfish and can’t think that they are annoying to others. They think more so of getting ‘tanked’ up and can’t be bothered to wait for the interval. It amazes me that tickets for these things are not cheap but they are willing to miss good entertainment for the sack if their bellies! May I add this isn’t just the younger generation but the older generation too.

Gone are the days when latecommers had to wait until the interval.I remember we were guided to our seats by the staff and likewise at the interval in a theatre, there was a lady selling ice cream walking down the ailes, so much better than everyone mobving out at the interval and returning late etc. and dont get me started about eating, noisy sweet unwrapping etc.
Why dont they have an announcement about switching off mobiles before the performance.

Bevisp1, I was at a concert where next to me there were two gentlemen with their very elderly mother. In this row were older men up and down to the bar just about all night. Difficulty with older men is that many have bladder issues, hence up and down. At one point we had all just sat down again when another man needed to go, so we all had to stand up again. Elderly ladies sons lost it at that point and said ' for goodness sake, this is ridiculous'. Ive seen real arguments at concerts. The venues moan about trouble but are prepared to sell copious amounts of alcohol. They cannot have it all ways. My friend even had the experience where a whole family was escorted out of a family show, it was a singer. It's getting ridiculous. I once went to a concert where it was tea, coffee, juice only. It was bliss. Even my friend commented on the difference no alcohol made.

I too went to the theatre last week and there were two empty seats in front of me. Yippee thought I. Then the show opened and 10 minutes later, in comes Mrs Aggravating, causing everyone to stand up to let her reach her seat in the middle of the row. Then she fusses and fidgets about taking her coat off, then her phone went off and lights up. People either side ask her to switch if off. Five minutes later it goes off again, and up she gets (causing another row of stand ups), leaves the auditorium briefly and returns with her friend, presumably the one who was texting her to say she'd now arrived. Late. Then we get the repeat wave of everyone having to stand up before they both eventually settle down. And all this while the perfomers are in full swing.

If this was you in Row C, Dress Circle, Chicago, Bristol Hippodrome, 25 April, then please don't do it again. It's selfish in the extreme and very rude to both the audience and the performers.

Some years ago my daughter and I were at the theatre when a school group of teenagers arrived. They were very noisy and disruptive. My daughter asked what school they were from and they told her. The next morning she phoned the school and described how they'd behaved. The head teacher said they would all be punished!

We have a cinema near us, an old fashioned one, where on certain days your ticket price includes a cup of tea and a biscuit x

Interesting to see the various references to “management needing to take control” and wondering exactly how this could be enforced. A close relative is a theatre manager in the West End and is often berated, verbally abused, reported for having “ attitude”, frequently by people who have turned up late and take offence at being refused immediate entry, or who are on time but under the influence of alcohol. I know he’s had to call Police and ambulance services and even broken up a fight in the auditorium. All in the name of “ taking control” and trying to ensure the majority of the audience gets the theatre experience they are hoping for. They may be theatre staff but they arent paid enough to risk their own well-being. The onus should be on the theatre goer to behave appropriately. Sadly this often isnt the case.
BTW he always says he would ban the sale of refreshments with crackly wrappers, that crunch when they’re eaten or smell ??

Some cinemas or screens have a row at the side of 2 seats, per row, we usually book these ones. It’s Cineworld but not all screens have these.

What bugs me is when people in front stand up and cheer. Fair enough I suppose, they are enjoying themselves. But I have to clap and cheer from a sitting position looking at people's backsides instead!!!

Athrawes

What bugs me is when people in front stand up and cheer. Fair enough I suppose, they are enjoying themselves. But I have to clap and cheer from a sitting position looking at people's backsides instead!!!

At the end of the show surely? That is the only acceptable time to give a standing ovation.

Totally agree with most of the above which I'm 'glad' to read as I was beginning to think it was my growing intolerance to other people.
Why do people have to buy and eat popcorn in the cinema: don't they realise the noise it makes. When did that start as it was an ice cream in the interval when I was a child.

Oh, and why do bars serve drinks throughout the show? They climb over us to get to the bar, back again, and then they need toilet breaks! I missed the whole of Hotel California by the Eagles because a fan started dancing on his way back from the bar, in front of my seat?

I'd ban the sale of alcohol at theatres and concert venues. It causes a lot of trouble.

Sadly I think the theatres need to sell alcohol to meet their overheads. And personally I enjoy a g&t pre- show. Its the so called “ fans” who arrive already tanked up and too far gone to enjoy anything. Why waste all that money when they could stay home, go to their local and get legless for far less damage to their bank accounts.

I too find all of the behaviour that others have described as incredibly rude and inconsiderate, and don't often go to cinemas or theatres now. I don't expect it would make much difference, but I wonder if a terms & conditions document was issued with the tickets, with a clear statement that at the first infringement people would be told to leave the auditorium; wait until the interval to get in; have their snacks drinks taken away etc.. This could be displayed on the screen too if it's a cinema before and during intervals, maybe read out at live theatre, concerts etc.. Zero tolerance could perhaps help to bring back the consideration for others and the behaviour we were brought up to display?

You need security guards- with guns !