This article caught my attention the other day https://news.sky.com/story/audiences-behaving-badly-an-epidemic-of-anti-social-behaviour-in-theatres-concerts-and-gigs-12952497
Coming back to theatre after covid I noticed a shift in behaviour from theatres goers. It was about 2 years ago and I thought at the time it was just people adjusting again to being in a live entertainment environment. Chatting, shuffling about in their seats, still using phones, that kind of thing. They had basically forgotten that they weren’t on their sofas at home watching Netflix, and that the audience around them, and most importantly the actors on stage, could actually hear and see their behaviour.
I was sure it would settle down as we all got used to being together and social again, and normal theatre etiquette would return.
It would seem I was wrong! This current spate of anti-social behaviour in theatres is next level and knocks shushing sweet paper rustlers out of the park.
In the summer holidays I took my dad and son to see Grease The Musical in the west end https://www.greasemusical.co.uk/ and we had a wonderful time, but just days after our visit, as you can read in the article, audience members had to be removed from the balcony, by the police, for causing a disturbance. I genuinely don’t understand paying a lot – and it is a lot – of money to see a west end show then ruin it by getting too drunk to enjoy it, or so rowdy you get thrown out. What is the point?
The Sky News article suggest alcohol may be a problem but also that high ticket prices have given audiences a ‘sense of entitlement’ – the mentality being – we’ve paid a lot of money so we can do what the hell we like! If that is so then maybe it’s another reason to bring west end ticket prices down! For me the more money I’ve paid the more I want to really enjoy the experience and saviour every moment of what I’m seeing, not start a fight in the aisles.
What do you think? Have you experienced anti-social behaviour in the theatre? Either in the west end, a big touring show or in a smaller local theatre? Have you noticed a change in theatre goers attitudes?
I’d love to hear from you. You can leave comments here or email me at georgy@suffolktheatre.co.uk – and please like and subscribe to the website – thank you.
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