To expect good manners in Theatre Audiences

Correction enormous containers of popcorn

The behaviour of these audience members is simply jaw dropping

youtu.be/-9YMX37_Sg4?si=dCLq5zlSNwKblJGe

Good Lord!
That is awful Grunty.
Have seen some squabbles at the theatre but never a full on brawl. On one occasion a young woman dropped her drink on the steps leading to her seat and refused to pick it up despite people behind her pointing out it was a hazard and someone could easily slip. I went to tell a steward fearing an accident who then had to clean it all up. Meanwhile the young woman had the nerve to get up and once again visit the bar to get another drink without a backward glance.
There really are no words.
🙄

Attending a live performance is more than the same thing on TV in privacy of your home.

Attending a live performance involves silently associating with the rest of the audience who want to pay attention to the music, dance, theatre or whatever. The event is like attending a church service in that you respect the spirit of the event.

However if the event turns out to be downright evil there are not many who would object if you did not want to participate.

Making yourself into a pig in public is uncharming for sure, but is a trivial matter compared with free speech and the right for people to be heard.

The behaviour of some of the audiences described here could well have been transported from Shakespeare’s time

What was going on there Grunty please?
I have watched the video but I have no context so have no idea what was the incident that led to this to be honest.

Can you explain please?

NotSpaghetti apparently the incident occurred during a performance of the Bodyguard. Before the curtain was raised, the cast made a formal request that members of the audience refrain from singing throughout the show. The woman and her daughter ignored that request and were singing along, at full volume and very much off key, with every song. Audience members felt that, having paid significant sums of money to hear a professional singer perform, they'd prefer the 2 women to stfu. The women objected, sang louder, a fight broke out and the police arrived to evict them from the auditorium.

Thank you.
It just looked a bit mad when you don't understand.
Honestly - how ridiculous!

I think there's a general downturn in common courtesy and good manners now, but it's especially annoying when you consider the price of theatre (or cinema) tickets now. People who behave in this manner just spoil the occasion for everyone else. If I've paid good money to attend a show, then I want to be able to enjoy it to the full.
And I agree about those who just chuck stuff on the floor - absolutely no need for that at all!

Grunty

NotSpaghetti apparently the incident occurred during a performance of the Bodyguard. Before the curtain was raised, the cast made a formal request that members of the audience refrain from singing throughout the show. The woman and her daughter ignored that request and were singing along, at full volume and very much off key, with every song. Audience members felt that, having paid significant sums of money to hear a professional singer perform, they'd prefer the 2 women to stfu. The women objected, sang louder, a fight broke out and the police arrived to evict them from the auditorium.

Yes we had that, a bunch of middle aged women all dressed alike at mama Mia wearing big wigs, stood in front of us bopping along and singing every song. We couldn’t see anything or hear anything. And when I asked them to at least sit down I was engulfed in a gin soaked cloud as one woman said ‘come and dance with us’.
I declined.
Ruined the whole thing. Not sure if anyone addressed the audience with regard to singing along at the start but there was a collection of ABBA songs played at the end when the audience were able to get up and boogie.
No fights broke out but there was plenty of angry muttering and sighing. Obviously a less physical crowd.

I attended Choral Matins this morning in a beautiful cathedral and and was seated in the choir stalls next to a young man wearing a tweed cap which he didn't bother to remove. Opposite was a young woman drinking her takeaway coffee throughout the service.

I basically think that sone people have the mentality that if they have paid for something they should be allowed to behave how they want. Is the same when some people go on holiday, and get stupidly drunk spoiling other holidaymakers enjoyment and annoying the locals.
Is totally selfish and entitled.

We do not go to the theatre often so it is a treat for us,
but our last show was ruined by others. In the row in front a man came in after the show blocking views and talking while getting into his seat. He then proceeded to hold up his phone to record the show. I tapped him on the shoulder and asked him to stop as he was blocking mine and others views. He stopped but I did have to ask him again as he started recording again. I think an usher also had a word with him. He wasn’t happy but this one individual was ruining the show for several.
Standards have dropped. I am all for people enjoying themselves and using phones when it is appropriate but I do wish the selfish ones could learn to be more considerate of others.

I love going to the theatre and go a few times a year either in London or local theatres . My experience is that it is the audience at the so called juke box musicals , which started with mama Mia , who are loud and rowdy . And often attracts drunk women who sing along and dance . Many of these shows allow a bit of singing and dancing at the end . And shows like the rocky horror show encourage the audience to sing along .
Most of the productions I’ve seen , latecomers have to wait at the side until the interval or a set change .
The last play I saw was Warhorse at Wimbledon theatre . The book is on the curriculum , so there were lots of high school kids there and my heart sank , but once the play started there was silence from audience and that continued. Whether the kids had been read the riot act by their teachers or whether they were engrossed in the play , I don’t know , but they were all very well behaved.

Good behaviour should everywhere.

Our British values of respect and good manners have seemingly disappeared of late. As a child of the fifties, I find it all very sad. We were taught by our parents and grandparents to always respect our elders, to be polite, not to shout in public, never to drop litter - the list goes on, and it wasn't a hardship. I loathe this uncaring attitude surrounding us these days. Okay, I sound like a dinosaur 🦖 TOUGH. 😂

The ushers at Macbeth clearly state that there is no re-admittance. The ushers should uphold this rule and summon front of house if there is a problem patron. The performance is less than 2 hours long.

not just theatres, it is everywhere, good manners are now a thing of the past, everyone is out for themselves without a thought for others, so sad!

I used to enjoy going to the Theatre/ Opera, and to the Cinema, but people nowadays don’t seem to realise that going to the theatre is any different to watching the TV at home where they can drink, eat, play with their phones, etc, and chat all the way through!
I used to enjoy a theatre trip… since the pandemic, as I’m elderly and have health issues, I no longer make the effort, which is a shame as for some live shows the audiences are dwindling and local theatres struggling… maybe that is why so much bad behaviour is tolerated?

I used to love a theatre trip, concert etc but I've had several bad experiences which have totally put me off going especially as it is an expensive outing.
People coming in late... various trips to the bar resulting in the row having to stand up several times. Loud conversations, singing and dancing - fine but have some consideration for those behind!!

We went to a live screening of Cinderella the ballet at the cinema last week. One extremely large lady (she had great trouble fitting into the cinema seat) rustled her way through a huge sharing bag of crisps and 3 large bags of sweets. She didn’t stop throughout the whole performance and her noise was very obvious because the rest of the audience were so quiet. I think if I’d have been sitting next to her I’d have had to say something but nobody did of course.

If the performance is being streamed to screens outside the auditorium it's reasonable to ask people to wait for the interval or change of scene to come in, and a few moments should be allowed for that to happen, not just at half time. Otherwise it excludes people with medical conditions requiring unexpected toilet visits. Eating and drinking can be banned, no problem. Silent use of mobile phones is ok. The person may have had no interest in theatre and have accompanied someone as a favour because they didn't want to go alone. But keep the phone angled so the light doesn't distract others.

Saw a beautiful production at Sadlers Wells last week. The audience were of all ages and everyone behaved perfectly. Perhaps ballet lovers are better behaved.

Ready meals: Why is silent use of a mobile phone OK. I find a bright screen very distracting and most places you go to ask you to switch off your mobile, for a very good reason!!!!!!

Cycorax

Saw a beautiful production at Sadlers Wells last week. The audience were of all ages and everyone behaved perfectly. Perhaps ballet lovers are better behaved.

The last time I went to the theatre was to see my favourite ballet, Romeo and Juliet. There was a drunk woman with a child behind me. She gave a running commentary to the child about what was happening on stage. After a considerable time, I shushed her. A communication that was normal if needed in the past at theatres. Since it was itself a quieter communication than speaking to the person. Probably, due to be drunk, she became aggressive, ranting at me and at one point, put her hands on me. I was trying to defuse the situation by saying little back because I was aware that this was causing more disruption to those around us.

It was the final straw for me. I have never been back to the theatre since. Since then, I attend live ballet at cinemas, where the audience tends to be ‘oldies’ who all behave like the after goers used to 🤷‍♀️