To expect good manners in Theatre Audiences

It is another sad sign of the times of what our society has now become. Good manners in the theatre do seem to be a thing of the past, some people selfishly behaving as if they are in their own living rooms.

Babs03 Totally agree. Audienes everywhere show no respect for the performers or audience members. Phones in use, loud noise speaking with members of their group, feet up on back of seat in front, all the to-ing and fro-ing to the bar. Just couldnot understand the need for alcohol at an afternoon pantomime performance. Seems there is a huge lack of respect both for self and others nowadays.

Not only theatre, but one granddaughter's graduation was ruined for us by two noisy women who talked noisily to each other throughout. I also tapped one on the shoulder to request them politely to be quiet and they were very annoyed. They were directly in front of us and upped their volume after I asked.

I’m sorry to say that nowadays rude behaviour is the norm, including theatre, cinema and comedy shows, unfortunately it’s not new but there is more and more of it, I recall going to the cinema in Norwich about 20 years ago, just as the film started a very well known local news presenter and a colleague sat in front of us, he chatted to her for the first ten minutes of the film, gave him a chance to quieten down and when he didn’t I loudly asked him to shut up, he did ! I don’t know what the answer is other than if you are late for any performance you don’t get in till the break.

I think there has been a steep decline in manners in general . You see it in shops and supermarkets , walking out in public and when driving . Alot of people these days seem to think they are more important than everybody else .

I don’t expect good manners any more as I rarely encounter them. I don’t know what has happened to people. I’m no longer proud of this country. But I do realise I’ve become a Grumpy Old Woman.

Slightly off the original topic but my church had its community service last week. Happily there were people there who would not be regular church goers. Someone remarked to me that along with the applause following the carols,
it was the first time he had ever experienced clapping after a blessing!

Stella14

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 🤷‍♀️

I attend live ballet at cinemas ....

I do this most of the time now.
I just wish more shows plays etc. Were shown in cinemas.
I haven't had a bad experience with this way of viewing
The seats are usually comfortable. No one eats during the performamce, well in my experience anyway.
Obviously the experience isnt one you might have in WE, but horses for courses

I don't even go to the cinema anymore because there's always someone talking, unwrapping sweets, on phones etc! Never understand why people can't sit and enjoy something without having to chomp all the way through, just don't get the need to constantly need to be eating! Obviously now it's spilling into theatre's!!

I've given up on the cinema due to people talking, making calls, getting up and coming and going - I wait for the DVD to be available. (I still have a DVD player. ) Much as we love live theatre, the last experience was really so frustrating - noisy eating, phone lights distracting, talking, and a theatre visit now is an expensive outing.

I recently went to a matinee performance of Blood Brothers in Manchester with my 2 daughters and 6 grandchildren aged 12 -20. Fairly soon after the show started there was a disturbance - a couple of people had their phones on and were refusing to turn them off. Theatre staff got involved and it culminated with the group being told to leave. I'm not sure whether those on stage were aware as we were up in the gallery but it was disturbing for those around. One of my daughters was only a few seats away and said it was obvious when the group came in that they had already been drinking and that a couple had drinks in their hand. Theatre seats aren't cheap and I can't understand why people would do this.

Have to say, I attended the same theatre a couple of weeks later - again a matinee to see Wicked, with no problems at all - Well as far as I'm aware!

I have awful memories of being the cause of disturbance. When I was ten, I was taken to a ballet at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. I was so excited that I kept commenting and asking my mother questions, although I knew I shouldn’t. A superior man in front of us turned round and said to my mother “Please would you tell your daughter to be quiet”. My poor mother was very embarrassed, and I was utterly crushed. I didn’t speak another word! It was 75 years ago and I have not forgotten.

As a result I am fairly tolerant of talkative excited children. Not at all tolerant of adults who don’t behave properly, though.

Aww that IS a shame, all that money for tickets and then people spoil it. Also it feels really rude and disrespectful to the actors. I don't know what is going on with people lately.

I know it's a very different situation but i did have a smile reading this - I went to a panto put on by the English department at a uni in a Scandinavian country - there were several of us Brits and we hissed and booed, shouted ' look behind you' and so on and the cast were really enjoying themselves. However, quite a few scandi audience members asked us to be quiet!

Haven't been to the theatre for 3 yrs now but have been to the cinema recently. It was a teatime performance and there was a family of three sat in front of me. Looked like parents and daughter, they had brought food with them and continually opened up different, noisy, smelly containers of food and sat there chatting loudly and eating and drinking. The mother and daughter both had feet up on the seats in front (unoccupied) and then 2 of them got put phones and were texting, very distracting. The cinema was only half full so I eventually moved seats to the other side well away from them. Despicable, bad mannered and thoughtless behaviour.

We have a local theatre, and twice within a few weeks I have been with by grandchildren 9 and 11. They do understand that during a performance to stay still, no chatting (whispering a question is ok), and if you have a mint, then put the wrapper in your pocket.

Just yesterday we went to the school district band concert. The grade 5's (first year with instruments) were the first to perform, and afterwards were allowed to go into the audience to sit with their families.

I have issue with these types of events where families leave after their Johnny has finished his performance. The audience was noticeably thinner by the time the 16-17 year old jazz band was performing. That makes me angry. At least most leaving had the decency to shuffle out in between numbers.

I really don’t understand how everyone seems to be ok with eating in cinemas with the smell and mess Can’t they eat before or after a show? I know it makes the big cinemas a huge profit. Not talking about sweets and popcorn but burgers etc. Also had to ask a women talking very loudly on her phone at the cinema ( live presenters were starting their nature talk) The cinema had empty rows and she sat right next to me on her phone. So entitled and ignoring any one else wanting to listen to the presenters

I went to a performance of The Messiah at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester the weekend before this. The huge theatre was full. The production absolutely glorious. Before it started we were reminded to switch off phones and not take photographs. I was sitting in good stall seats, my row and the one in front full of music students. They were mostly engrossed but a student in front of me was constantly checking his phone. I tapped his shoulder, pointed to my eye, whispered it’s hurting my eye and is distracting. What a filthy look but he stopped until the Hallelujah chorus when he started photographing the stage. He was the only student of Chinese origin - phone addicted? No manners

I can undertand why actors and muscians can challenge the audience if they see people on their phones etc., or to leave the stage until this is dealt with. Is disrespectful to those who rehearse long hours in order to entertain us, and not all are paid the big bucks, there are many supporting actors and those accompanying more famous musicians, who are just there for their bread and butter.
I imagine this never happened back in Oliviers day.

The last time I went to the cinema I thought, what am I doing here?
Would I want a bunch of people around me, while sitting on my sofa at home, talking and shuffling, and coughing and eating etc?
No I wouldnt.
So I havent been back since. So far.

Oooh, I used to love going to the Bridgewater Hall when mum and dad were alive, and we used to visit them in the north.
The Messiah is one of my favourites, I bet it was gorgeous.
Shame about the misbehaving student though. Annoying!

I remember when going to the cinema was very different, no meals or big buckets of popcorn, or enormous seats with trays at the side for food and drinks, the seats were uncomfortable, and you didn't get to see the main feature until a shorter film was shown at the beginning, and the only chance of anything edible was from the hostess at the interval who brought the icecreams out, my fav was always a strawberry mivvy and my mum would have a choc ice.
Nobody caused a ruckus and nobody trashed the place.
A different age.

petal53 - it was a special performance with such skill. The choir was wonderful, a wall of sound.

Haha, that description made me smile Babs. A very evocative memory, I could just see those old cinemas in my mind.
Mind you, I do like the reclining seats these days, so comfy. And if I’ve taken my twelve year old grandson to some particularly awful, rubbishy film. I can close my eyes and relax for a bit.
Not if someone comes along with one of those foul smelling meals though. I only allow my grandchildren popcorn or ice cream. And a bottle of water.