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Post by distantcousin on Nov 30, 2022 10:59:23 GMT
Just happened to come across this on Newcastle Theatre Royal's website re their production of An Inspector Calls:
"An Inspector Calls Smoking statement
There are a few instances of smoking during this production of An Inspector Calls. The first, comes from the text where Mr Birling and Gerald play a status game with a cigar vs cigarette as part of the after dinner activities typical from this period. In addition, Gerald smokes at a later point of the production, again as a way of playing status and his smoking is ridiculed by the production and the audience as we see him churlishly throw his cigarette in a puddle whilst being interrogated. Additionally, to the above, this iconic production uses references to film noir with smoking being a part of the picture created"
Is this really necessary??!
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Post by cezbear on Nov 30, 2022 10:59:57 GMT
I'm just going to assume that's parody please.
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1,878 posts
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Post by distantcousin on Nov 30, 2022 11:00:51 GMT
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Post by cezbear on Nov 30, 2022 11:04:15 GMT
I'm sure people will rush in here to tell me how necessary trigger warnings are and all that jazz. But honestly, if a trigger warning is needed for smoking then I do worry how people manage walking down the street.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 30, 2022 11:12:53 GMT
Is this a trigger warning though? Sounds more like they’re explaining in advance why smoking scenes are included in the play given that it’s not usually allowed inside public buildings. There will inevitably be some customers who would point that out or complain about being exposed to it.
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Post by theatrefan62 on Nov 30, 2022 11:13:23 GMT
I was watching a crime drama and had trigger warning on scenes and talk of crimes, which seems stating the bleeding obvious. It just feels some warnings have gone to the other extreme now
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Post by hadeswasking on Nov 30, 2022 11:13:57 GMT
Surely if the warning isn't meant for you maybe its okay to just ignore it...
I don't quite get this one but getting upset about it isn't nessascary. The beauty of people is that everyone's different and if it helps at least one person, there shouldn't be a need to complain.
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Post by Dr Tom on Nov 30, 2022 11:39:57 GMT
This might be more a post for the General forum, but I wonder if this statement is there as the production is marketed heavily towards school where pupils are studying the play for their GCSEs?
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Post by couldileaveyou on Nov 30, 2022 12:14:55 GMT
When did An Inspector Calls become a play
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Post by Seriously on Nov 30, 2022 12:25:44 GMT
We'll probably end up with trigger warnings for subject matter, song lyrics, casting, costumes, posters, props, sound effects, the person sat next to you, and the state of the toilets.
"The spoon's under the lid" "Why didn't you warn me?"
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Post by profquatermass on Nov 30, 2022 13:04:09 GMT
Since the ban, every single play I've seen featuring smoking has come with a warning. Just like there are always warnings now about strobe lights and sudden noises. I'm slightly baffled that others haven't noticed this. Just ignore the warning if it not about something that bothers you
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Post by anxiousoctopus on Nov 30, 2022 13:07:31 GMT
I’ve seen smoking listed alongside haze effects and flashing lights warnings (for example in the play ‘Spike’ UK Tour they listed ‘smoking of an e-cigarette’). I don’t think it’s a content warning and more a clarification so people don’t complain because it’s illegal to smoke indoors (idk who would but there are strange people in the world)
I’m not sure of the exact reasoning but it’s interesting it’s become a common thing to list (I’d love to know why, is it a legal thing they need to declare?)
I will always defend trigger warnings on the door for shows, especially ones that might I not be obvious going in (another ‘Spike’ example is a warning for attempted suicide, because the show is mainly lighthearted people might not know about his mental health struggles going in). Same goes for when there’s sudden guns/explosions/bangs in plays, for people with PTSD.
Content warnings for major triggers should be normalised across all theatre. Sometimes a production might go a bit over the top or list something you wouldn’t normally see listed but if it helps one person not have a nasty theatre experience then it’s worth it. (Although I do agree the Inspector Calls warning is a bit over explained!)
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Nov 30, 2022 13:11:16 GMT
Surely warnings for smoking are aimed at people with allergies?
People get very offended (“special snowflake” types) at signs saying there are latex balloons used in a production, but that’s because latex allergy can cause anaphylactic shock which can and does kill people.
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Post by emsworthian on Nov 30, 2022 13:28:29 GMT
I have seen outside the Minerva, Chichester, where the audience sits quite close to the stage, notices that there is smoking in the play but the actors will be smoking herbal cigarettes. I suppose this is in case anyone is worried about the effects of passive smoking.
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Post by profquatermass on Nov 30, 2022 13:38:51 GMT
I’ve seen smoking listed alongside haze effects and flashing lights warnings (for example in the play ‘Spike’ UK Tour they listed ‘smoking of an e-cigarette’). I don’t think it’s a content warning and more a clarification so people don’t complain because it’s illegal to smoke indoors (idk who would but there are strange people in the world) I’m not sure of the exact reasoning but it’s interesting it’s become a common thing to list (I’d love to know why, is it a legal thing they need to declare?) It's not the law but it's definitely recommended by the HSE. I found this on their website "As producers have no control over the composition or health status of their audiences, special care should be taken to minimise their exposure and, whenever possible, this should be avoided completely if there is any risk to them. If it is possible (or intended) for the effect to go into the audience the following precautions should be considered: ■ Limit the amount of smoke/vapour to the minimum necessary for the desired effect. ■ Direct and control smoke effects to ensure even spread and no areas of concentration. ■ Print warnings on or with the tickets. ■ Post warning notices on the premises (reinforced by verbal warnings before the performance if this is considered necessary). All warnings should indicate the type of people who may be particularly at risk."
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 30, 2022 13:49:19 GMT
I’m sure some people must be adversely affected by dry ice but that seems to be used massively without warnings. Often it’s puttering out over the edge of the stage and into the orchestra pit and front rows.
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Post by kathryn on Nov 30, 2022 15:50:54 GMT
I always assumed that smoking info was about health concerns (both for audience and actors - to reassure us that actors are smoking herbal cigarettes and not the real thing) not a ‘content warning’. That does sound more like a justification of inclusion of smoking than health-related info.
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Post by profquatermass on Nov 30, 2022 15:55:49 GMT
I always assumed that smoking info was about health concerns (both for audience and actors - to reassure us that actors are smoking herbal cigarettes and not the real thing) not a ‘content warning’. That does sound more like a justification of inclusion of smoking than health-related info. Actors are allowed to smoke real cigarettes on stage and often do.
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Post by kathryn on Nov 30, 2022 17:15:39 GMT
Yes, I know they do. Which is something that someone sensitive to tobacco smoke might need to know, right?
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Post by justsaying113 on Nov 30, 2022 17:44:37 GMT
I kind of get it but, dear God, we're all going to end up incapable of anything if this nonsense keeps going. I mean, I might be offended/traumatised by the sight of (other) bald guys on stage. We're in danger of becoming that ridiculous.
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Nov 30, 2022 17:52:49 GMT
Allergies have nothing to do with being offended.
Besides it’s kind of ironic how much the mere existence of warnings triggers some people. Surely being triggered by an allergy warning is the very definition of offended by everything?
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Post by couldileaveyou on Nov 30, 2022 19:18:26 GMT
Allergies have nothing to do with being offended. Besides it’s kind of ironic how much the mere existence of warnings triggers some people. Surely being triggered by an allergy warning is the very definition of offended by everything? Yeah it's funny how the Venn diagram of people who accuse others of being snowflakes and people who are offended by everything is a circle
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Post by properjob on Nov 30, 2022 20:10:48 GMT
I’m sure some people must be adversely affected by dry ice but that seems to be used massively without warnings. Often it’s puttering out over the edge of the stage and into the orchestra pit and front rows. What you see with dry ice is water vapour and dry ice itself is just carbon dioxide so if you were allergic to those you couldn't live on this planet.
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Post by anxiousoctopus on Nov 30, 2022 20:32:52 GMT
I kind of get it but, dear God, we're all going to end up incapable of anything if this nonsense keeps going. I mean, I might be offended/traumatised by the sight of (other) bald guys on stage. We're in danger of becoming that ridiculous. I think that’s getting a little reductive to say a content warning for stuff like gunshots and suicide is pandering to ‘snowflakes’. When you start saying that you’re worried about these things happening ‘one day’ then I think you’ve dreamt up some blue-haired strawmen. But at the end of the day, warnings about serious topics aren’t ‘nonsense’, especially for those suffering from PTSD, or who might get triggered by suicide or other serious topics. Theatre isn’t meant to induce panic attacks, even serious plays (except maybe that 1984 play on Broadway…)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2022 1:29:18 GMT
If you're triggered by trigger warnings ...
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Post by kate8 on Dec 1, 2022 10:00:52 GMT
I like trigger warnings for loud noises and strobe lights (I’m autistic), but am fine if I know to expect them. So I usually read the trigger notices and occasionally I’ve contacted a theatre for more info.
Most of the warnings aren’t relevant to me, but what’s the problem if it means someone is aware in advance if something might be an issue for them? I think when people see this as snowflakeish, maybe they’re seeing 5 triggers and thinking some super-sensitive person is going to tick all of those and just needs to grow a backbone? There will always be a few drama queens (maybe they are drawn to theatre?), but in most cases its just normal people (even your own friends and family) who may have one thing from their past or a medical reason why something might be uncomfortable or upsetting. Advance warning helps, so surely it’s good if we can do that. If you’re not likely to be triggered by anything or prefer a ‘pull yourself together’ approach, then there’s no need to even look at the warnings.
With smoking I suspect it’s more because we just don’t see people smoking in indoor public places, so maybe it forestalls criticism or queries about it. More plays seem to be using unlit cigarettes now, so perhaps that will be the norm in a few years and some will see it as caving in to oversensitivity.
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Post by Jan on Dec 1, 2022 10:20:09 GMT
These warnings are not at all new, they started 15 years ago when smoking indoors in public places was banned. As has been noted I assume they are aimed at asthma sufferers who might have otherwise assumed that indoor spaces were "safe".
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Post by sukhavati on Dec 1, 2022 10:22:04 GMT
The last show I saw with smoking was "Company" at the Gielgud, where there was a warning. I was seated in the stalls close to the stage, so I could smell the cigarettes from my seat, but I didn't think it was a problem.
The last theatre where I worked, we had scheduled certain performances of touring West End shows to be sensory friendly, so in "Wicked" for example, the house lights would not go all the way down and the strobes would be turned down, as would certain sound effects. It was also understood that some children in those performances would not necessarily be able to sit still, so front of house staff were prepared to cooperate with whatever the parents needed, especially if the children had to go out into the lobby for a bit.
The venue where I work now has signs posted near the entrance that strobes or smoke effects are sometimes included in the musical performances, and contact security if someone becomes unwell. Last night we had a child go into a seizure because of the strobes. I've never seen our security guards run so fast getting the kiddo and family out. The medics came and all was well eventually, but I will take the strobe warnings a lot more seriously in the future.
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