Bad Behaviour By Theatres

Hmmm. I wonder if there’s a happy medium.

If you all knew the half of how the very general public treat us working in theatres.

The story about ushers now wearing body cams is proof of that.

I get rudeness or not doing a job properly but complaining that someone was being loud isn’t bad behaviour and the lack of bins could be for security reasons given Hamilton is a high profile show.

I can understand some frustration at issues above. Don’t get me wrong similar and worse has happened to me. I just try not to let it affect my experience and always see the other side. The example of an usher not knowing seat numbers and then being arrogant is just one not very nice person. I still don’t think it’s a very positive way to live just dwelling on these things though. The dipstick was probably just doing what they were told.

Two wrongs don’t make a right but neither do really negative threads targeting the people who make it possible for you to attend all of those plays and musicals we love to moan about.

Audiences, especially in the West End, have never been more rude and entitled. I see it every time I see a show now. I’m not an usher but I have been before and it’s tricky stuff at times. Not the job...the people.

Also agree some of the Victoria Palace staff are horrible! First time I saw the show my mother walked to the doors after the show- before turning back around to find me, bear in mind she hadn't been outside. A security guard quickly got her hand and pulled her out the door, as she screamed into the foyer 'no re-admisson'! Never have came across anything like it in a theatre. My mother was then shouted at by the security guard and her other colleague- again who were taking their job a bit too seriously. The FOH manager came out after I went to get her and diffused the situation. She was lovely, and sat me and my mother down back in the theatre. Obviously my mother was shaken up. The manager asked if we wanted anything; a drink or a taxi, but Mother just wanted to calm down. She was so nice, and made sure we sent an email complaining to the security firm who had been brought in.

The guard in question would've been better suited to a football match. Not a (for the most part) calm and obeying matinee audience.

On my return visit, the same security guard was patrolling the queue shouting each and every time she went past us, making sure we had our documents out and ready. Someone else told her that we heard her the first time before I did! The FOH manager recognised me on my way in- which was lovely, we spoke briefly and she gave us some drinks vouchers! An amazing lady, who really knows how to treat and respect her patrons.

This is not a reply to anyone just a general post.

FOH staff who chat during shows. That is the closest it gets to me as being unprofessional. Or the one time I remeber at Haymarket the usher who was rolling around under one of the back seats. Unless they are plain rude like no please no thank you.

I assume that every usher no matter what has to tell you where to go or your seat (not always but some times). Great if you know where to go I just say thank you no one needs to hear someone scream at them "I know what I am doing" which I heard once. I assume all ushers probably come across maybe patronising if they encounter a million tourists who have no idea what to do or go or whatever.

Raising their voice is another thing. Its an issue I have where I work. If no one listen to you when you say something then you have no choice. I work in a shop and often have to queue organize because my company does not like signs to tell people things we have to. So regually I am saying "can everyone please move the queue to this side so that customers can leave and enter thank you." Usually they end up blocking the door. And after saying it once and no one moves. I say it louder. Theatres are small places and when I was at Queens (RIP) seeing Les Mis often I would hear the usher try and get people to move around for the queue because it blocks a lot of the exits. And everyone muttering to people in the queue about how no one said where to queue or getting annoyed. People only tend to raise their voice because no one listens.


I only relate to FOH because I work in a shop and you get the same sort of people. Customers at any capacity think they are right all of the time and then get annoyed when they can't get their own way. Then I don't have to deal with drunk people so that is a whole different ball game.

I’d agree with you there TM. The good far outweighs the bad. Recently I’ve had nothing but excellent service at Savoy, Adelphi, Drury Lane , Queens and Gielgud in particular. The Phoenix staff all seem to be having a ball. And I have to say the barman at The Garrick who pours my drink as soon as he sees me enter the bar makes me feel like a guest of honour/alcoholic. Hurrah !

^The lady who was pulled out of the theatre by her arm/hand?That is assault in law and should be a police matter.

Absolutely atrocious behavior from the Apollo theatre, London for continuing to host Thriller the "Musical".

Think of it like a firebreak: attack the surroundings to cut it off from escaping, then close in and eliminate the threat.

In fairness to @remark , the Apollo was quite badly behaved when it allowed its ceiling to fall onto all those Japanese tourists.

That was a kindness in the long term though, now audiences are all spared from the horrors of sitting in the Apollo balcony.