Have you ever walked out of a performance?

Regrettably we had to leave a Ken Dodd show at the interval as it went on so long and we had a babysitter. Learnt our lesson and next time we went to his show, we stayed through to the end.
I also object to paying full price for matinee tickets when the advertised "famous" lead couldn't be bothered to appear.

Glad it's not just me then with Cats! In fact I have seen a couple of Lloyd Webber's shows and didn't like any of them. I also hated Les Miserables and DH persuaded me to go to see the film after all the hype. I couldn't wait to get out of the cinema. There are lots of wonderful shows I have seen though

KatyK we also saw Cliff as Heathcliff; he was so horribly miscast as the rough, charmless hero that we had to contain our mirth. My OH had to be restrained from leaving at half time as kind friends had got the tickets - they were with us - and they thought he was wonderful. (I have no criticism of Cliff at all otherwise -this was just so 'not him'). I can't watch anything with too graphic violence - I end up dreaming about it.

Back in the 1970's myself, ex hubby and my aunt and uncle went to see film Papillon (Steve McQueen). We watched about half an hour, then at about the same time we all thought we'd never seen such a boring thing. Decided to get up and leave. The one and only time I ever did.

Rosina I saw Cliff in concert a few times back in the day. My DH and I enjoyed the concerts immensely. Cliff was great live and it was all rock and roll and people dancing and having a great time. I persuaded my DD (who was then in her 20s I think) to come to Heathcliff with me. We sat in the auditorium where all the seats were sort of joined up in rows. DD was trying really hard to suppress her laughter and the row of seats was shaking with her giggles, much to the annoyance of the die hard Cliff fans who thought anything he did was wonderful. It was very self-indulgent of him. A typical case of 'just because you can, doesn't mean you should'. I too have nothing against Cliff other than this.

A long time ago DH and I went to a 'pop' concert [indoors] and the decibel level was so high it hurt - so we left.

Only did it once after sitting through the first half of an incomprehensible play put on by a local AmDram group. My friend and I headed for the exit at the interval and realised there were so many people right behind us that they must have played the second half to an audience in single figures.

I came close to walking out of Waiting for Godot but, because I'd heard it described as "significant" and "an important contribution to 20th century theatre", decided to stick it out in the hope that, whatever the point might be, I might eventually grasp it. I never did and that was a chunk of my life I'll never get back .

In about 1971 when I was 16 I walked out of The Exorcist - it scared me so much! About 10 years ago my husband took me to see Ken Does. The show went on and on! We left about 11.30pm, he was still going strong. I'm afraid I wasn't really a fan of him, an hour would have been enough

Should be Ken Dodd!

Avenue Q is the funniest show we have ever seen on a stage.

We were in a hotel in Spain for Christmas and the evening's entertainment was an English Comic whose entire repertoire was based on racist, sexist jokes mainly concerning Pedro and his donkey. After 15 minutes of this our DDs had had enough but as we rose to leave the 'Comedian' hurled insults at them, including saying they were a Lesbian Couple off for a quickie. Eldest DD replied saying 'And you 'Sir' are a racist, sexist, homophobic bigot'. He tried to answer back but was drowned out by cheers and applause in support of my DD, especially from the Spanish waiters and holidaymakers. At least half the audience followed us out, taking their drinks with them to the outside terrace.

Not walked out of a theatre performance but I walked out of the cinema once. It was the eighties film, absolute beginners with Bowie. Much as I love him and his music the film was basically pretentious rubbish. Went to the pub and had a happy time with a pint and a game of pool. ?

As recently as Thursday I took my leave of a performance at the interval. The incessant and awful swearing as well as (I suspect) the depressingly accurate depiction of politicians was more than I could tolerate.

My late D.H and I walked out of the cinema in the interval of Cleopatra way back in the late 60's We got fed up with Liz Taylor and were bored to death!!

Chewbacca Same here! Maybe we were at the same place!? I hate all this vile language in the name of "humour".

PenJK50 I was never a great fan of Shakespeare - having been put off it at school where we lost the whole rhythm of the play because we had to stop and analyse every single line. But I too went to see The Merchant of Venice, mainly because Dustin Hoffman was in it and I was a great fan (very shallow I know). Like you, I didn't enjoy it, and I agree that he had no stage presence and mumbled the whole way through. Also, although it had never occurred to me at school, I found that I felt quite uncomfortable with the very unpleasant depiction of Shylock.

For my birthday one year, my daughter bought us both tickets to see "Closer" by Patrick Marber. It had received many awards and critical acclaim but I disliked it intensely - very crude and unpleasant - but didn't like to say anything as my daughter had spent quite a lot on the tickets. It turned out that my daughter hated it too but didn't want to say anything in case I felt differently!

Horacia had to laugh I didn’t walk out but felt the same about the Mousetrap bored me witless as did the film Turner had a nice little nap in that didn’t walk out because I was with three friends however when we got outside we d all been bored to tears and couldn’t wait for it to finish The only musical that had that effect on me was Cats I couldn’t walk out as I d taken two young people so I just had to grin and bear it ...yawn, yawn, yawn
So no I ve never physically walked out but mentally left the building

Just read the last page and realise there are a few of us that found Cats dire I always thought it must be me

It is now common sense to read all available reviews of a show online before paying up for ever increasingly expensive tickets. Years ago, we couldn't do this. Even so, I am sometimes caught out despite being a theatre and film enthusiast.
If in London, stick to the NT. Really good musicals (rare) are always booked out years ahead so don't bother.

Just once. A few years ago at the Savoy. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. I'm told it had been a good film long ago but the play was awful. Great set and costumes, what seemed a promising cast, but a level of pathetic and grubby 'wit' which would be surpassed by the average sixth form end of year sketch show.
My friend had a headache and I happily accompanied her out in the interval. The audience included a coach party who were audibly enjoying the play including once woman who screeched with laughter right through the first half. There's no accounting for taste.

I was invited as a thirteen year old boy to the Schoolboys International Football Match at Wembley Stadium (the old one). I lasted ten minutes. Utterly bored but the area around there was interesting and I was back on the coach ready to go home at the end. Swore I would NEVER attend any sports event again and have kept to that, very satisfied not to be so bored ever again now for fifty four very happy sportless years

Walked out of the movie Istar hardly stayed twenty mins. Warren Beaty and Dustin Hoffman.

I'm not going to mention names or places - once I felt very tempted to walk out after asking politely for a refund - not sure if I'd be successful. I didn't dare though.
We went to a well known concert hall to see a 'vintage' performer - the sound was really terrible and it wasn't worth the ticket price. I'd have had a better evening playing records at home.

Three times. Years ago I left the theatre after about 15 minutes of ‘The good the bad and the ugly’. Too much blood and gore.
Second time when we took a group of school children to see Romeo and Juliet billed as appropriate for the age group. It was not the story any of us knew.
Went years ago to see Jetheo who was often on TV with Des O’connor and very funny. On stage he was vile and quiet disgusting. Left in the interval.

Only once although was tempted at a screening of a Harrison Ford film in a friends private cinema recently, couldn't as it was a charity event.
The one we walked out on was a performance of Flat Spin in the Kings Theatre Edinburgh in 1975, a "starring cast", who were obviuosly so bored they sounded like my old Physics teacher just waiting for retirement.
The then boyfriend and I went for a "nice" dinner and he got frozen Rainbow Trout,,,,, not a great evening!!!