Theatre Etiquette. Annoying woman in front

CrumpetsForTea

Last weekend I went to the theatre for a matinee performance and sat next to an elderly man who fell asleep half way through and slowly slumped against me. I pushed him off me but he did it again in the second half.

biglouis

Its over 10 years since I went to the cinema or theater and I would much rather watch something at home alone than in a public place. People in the audience can be annoying without realising it (like the woman who was bobbing about). At home you can stop the film, go to the loo and make a cuppa when you like without distracting anyone.

I agree 👍🏻

Moving her head back and forth, right to left does not fit that category

I think this could fit into the category of invading someone's space if it meant they had to keep moving their head to see the stage.

Went to the ciname recently with my neurodivergent daughter who is hypersensitive to sound/light, and she told me afterwards there were a couple in our row who had their phones on (depite the cinema telling the audience they should be off) and whispering (despite cinema saying no talking)!

It really took the edge off her enjoyment.

If people aren't enjoying the film, can't they just leave?!

Went to a gig at the Brixham academy a few years back and my enjoyment was spoilt by all the people trying to film the band with their mobile phones. All I had was light flare in my eyes and I think it would have been so much better if we had been allowed to enjoy just the performance.

Last weekend I went to the theatre for a matinee performance and sat next to an elderly man who fell asleep half way through and slowly slumped against me. I pushed him off me but he did it again in the second half.

Balconies and galleries are no good for me, because there's usually a security bar in my eyeline if I sit on the front row

Try the second or third row back in the Circle/Upper Circke Ailidh
The rake of the floor is often steep enough for most of us shorties to see beyond the head immediately in front of us. The guard rail is unlikely to be above the line of the front of the stage and if you sit slightly to the side of centre that helps too.
I have found rows O or P of the upper circle of the Birmingham Hippodrome just about right, as well as being affordable!

I went to see Swan Lake once. A very tall man sat directly in front of me. My view of the centre of the stage was totally obscured. I only saw what was happening in the sides. Still, he couldn't help being tall

I suffer greatly from short-arsitis, and can struggle in unrefurbished theatres to see when there's anyone in front of me. Courting couples are the worst when you've just managed to secure a view of a quarter of the stage, and then they lean in and obliterate it.

Balconies and galleries are no good for me, because there's usually a security bar in my eyeline if I sit on the front row.

I solve the problem by sitting on the front row of the stalls - often very expensive, usually neck-cricking, occasionally blasted by the brass section but worth it not to have to worry about anyone in front of me. The cost means I don't go often but I thoroughly enjoy it when I do.

We went to see Rock of Ages and a couple behind us sang every lyric at the top of their voices and not completely in tune. During the interval, one of her group said that she admired their singing to which they thanked her. I couldn't help myself. I said that as lovely as their singing was, I'd paid to see the professionals so I was being distracted by them. I suggested that they move in front of me where there were two empty seats. Initially they looked shocked, then embarrassed and finally laughed. They too me up on my suggestion so we carried on chatting during the interval and after the show. They hadn't realised how distracting it was and were actually really nice people. They probably thought I was an old boot!

I went to se a musical I had wanted to see for ages, it was a birthday treat. A young lady beside me decided she was going to sing along to all the tunes. I told her I had not paid a fortune to listen to her and she very indignantly accused me of being rude!

Most older theatre seats are uncomfortably close, with not enough room to move. I don’t think I will be going to the theatre any more.
The last time I went to the cinema a few months ago I was the only person watching the film! Brilliant! No noise, no silly people, no heads in my way.

I would not have felt able to tell off the woman who was shifting about. People are not robots and I would not gaurantee I can sit perfectly still for two hours.

However behaviours like chatting, eating noisy refreshments and taking phone calls in theaters etc are rude and I would not hesitate to call someone out on them.

Perhaps its just as well I no longer go to cinemas and such.

To me it’s very inconsiderate behaviour, OP, and very irritating - I’d have done the same.

Tricky, but let's face it the majority of the seats are really uncomfortable, no leg room especially in older theatre's.
I start off good as Gold then I'm afraid I can help but fidget.

mumofmadboys

Sara1954 Well done to your granddaughter to cope well with an adult with special needs touching her hair.Also for engaging with the group in the interval. So important for children to learn to be kind to those who are different to themselves.

Well said.
It is good that so many productions now feature “relaxed” performances for those with learning needs, on the Autistic Spectrum, with ADHD, Down Syndrome, Tourette’s or whatever.
It is unforgivable to be permanently ostracised because of their own uncontrollable issues or those for whom they care.
We don’t take issue with children shouting out excitedly at pantomimes, so let’s not get too po-faced about the rest of the Arts.
(Mind you, I remember the first time I heard Pinkerton being boo-ed at a ROH performance of Madame Butterfly - I was horrified until I realised that’s what you do! )

biglouis

Its over 10 years since I went to the cinema or theater and I would much rather watch something at home alone than in a public place. People in the audience can be annoying without realising it (like the woman who was bobbing about). At home you can stop the film, go to the loo and make a cuppa when you like without distracting anyone.

I would have agreed until last night when I had a flaming row with my OH because he kept up a running commentary on Strictly. Gave up and had an early night.

I have been to a couple of live gigs in the last two years and I have vowed never to waste my money on any more due to the inconsiderate behaviour of the people round us who totally spoiled our enjoyment of going. If we go to the cinema I always try to get seats at the back with no one behind us so that they’re is no one scrunching food bags, talking through the film, kicking my seat or slurping the last of their drink! Don’t get me started on texting whist there!!! No, I am not old and grumpy, there is a great lack of respect for others everywhere now.

Oh yes. People who talk throughout. Last time we went there was a man with a bag of wrapped sweets
He rustled the bag and unwrapped the sweets noisily throughout. Can't people sit for a few hours without eating?

I was going to say the same thing as eazybee
It is one of the reasons I hesitate to buy theatre tickets and haven’t for many years because the same thing has happened to me snowberryz but I’ve probably been the annoying person who kept moving her head to try and see because the person in front kept moving theirs and blocking my view. Perhaps it was the concertina that eazybee has mentioned. After at least ten years I’ve finally decided to treat ourselves to a Christmas production this December and have my fingers crossed that we won’t be disappointed by the audience!

It’s those that ‘noisily’ eat & drink in cinemas or theatres that annoys me. If it’s not the constant rustle of sweet papers in the theatre it’s people munching through massive buckets of popcorn in the cinema then coughing all the time because it sticks in their throat. Then there’s the awful smell of burgers or hot dogs followed by all the straw slurping & ice rattling from enormous cartons of drinks. I much preferred it when people just had an ice cream in the interval or quietly sucked on the odd sweet. I know it brings in a big profit so people are encouraged to spend a fortune on all this food and drink but it can be so irritating.

It is very likely that the woman seated in front had someone in her sightline who was also moving. I sat behind someone like that during a film in a small cinema, but I could also see the man several rows ahead with a perfect view of the screen, who was constantly shifting in his seat, causing intense annoyance to the line of people behind him. Everyone was too polite to tell him.

Sara1954 Well done to your granddaughter to cope well with an adult with special needs touching her hair.Also for engaging with the group in the interval. So important for children to learn to be kind to those who are different to themselves.

How annoying!
I’ve had children and adults kicking the back of my seat and have had a quiet word.
People looking at their phone with the light distracting me.
Elderly ladies talking loudly.
Very tall people in front of me, twisting and turning because their legs get uncomfortable.
Large people with their arms and elbows over my chair.

Sweet papers rustling and popcorn in large containers being stirred around.

Oh dear , I think I must be very intolerant!

But I do love the theatre and cinema and still go along regardless 😂

welbeck

OP, weren't there any other seats you could have moved to.
that's what i'd have done i think.
i'm not surprised the woman glared at you.

No the theatre was packed.
So I couldn't move. She was tall, not her problem, so I tried to angle myself so I could see, but it was made impossible by her constant fidgeting and swaying side to side.
Oh, and the glare was worth it. At least she stopped.