2,329 posts
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Feb 25, 2023 19:18:20 GMT
Today at Frozen, two people arrived a good 15-20 minutes late, then talked and rustled their way through popcorn and other assorted snacks and sweets 🤦♀️ My advice would be.... let it go |
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Post by starlight92 on Feb 25, 2023 19:46:12 GMT
Today at Frozen, two people arrived a good 15-20 minutes late, then talked and rustled their way through popcorn and other assorted snacks and sweets 🤦♀️ My advice would be.... let it go 😂 |
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Post by sfsusan on Feb 25, 2023 19:46:38 GMT
decided to move into the still vacant seats 5 & 6 I was expecting further kerfuffle, but caused by the purchasers of 5 and 6 showing up late... |
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Post by marob on Feb 25, 2023 20:38:12 GMT
Went to see a ghost story this afternoon. Not my usual cup of tea, I think the last one I saw was The Woman in Black tour a good few years ago. Story was fine, I just forgot how annoying audiences can be at this type of thing. Many people seemed to wait until the quieter moments to start coughing their guts up (I miss that being a taboo these past few years) or giggling every single time there was a jump-scare. Just absolutely destroys whatever tension there is. Will be a long time before I go to another.
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2,245 posts
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Post by richey on Feb 25, 2023 20:46:16 GMT
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703 posts
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Post by theatremiss on Feb 26, 2023 1:39:52 GMT
I've recently got back into going to the theatre and so far I've encountered the following: At the Garrick for Orlando a stranger was sat in one of the seats I'd booked. As the friend I was meant to go with was unwell and the other seat I had a ticket for was unoccupied, I didn't make a fuss. At Les Mis at the Sondheim I had noisy eaters a couple of rows in front as well as someone who kept checking the home screen on their phone. Perhaps unsurprisingly &Juliet at The Shaftesbury Theatre was the worst one so far. I was totally fine with the big group whooping and cheering, but the couple in front of me who kept talking and pouring out wine into glasses mid show were getting on my nerves and I ended up telling them to be quiet. Thankfully they actually stayed silent after that (and stopped pouring the wine) and it didn't stop me absolutely loving the show. I used to go to the theatre in London fairly regularly between 1999-2008 and aside from telling my Mum to stop singing during one musical (which she didn't take kindly to) I don't recall audience behaviour being so bad, helped by smartphones not being a thing. Also, not the theatre, but I went to a preview screening of Matilda the Musical as part of the London Film Festival (run by the BFI). Unknown to me when I booked my ticket, the BFI had invited a load of school groups along. Virtually none of the kids were capable of sitting still for two hours, so my focus on the film was distracted by a constant stream of children getting up mid film. I also heard other audience goers had their seats kicked and heard children talking throughout. I was once at a show, think possibly Les Mis and my husband was unable to make it. I sat in one of the 2 seats and placed my bag and coat on the spare (I couldn’t get anyone to come with me). A woman was sat further down in the row and had obviously seen me arrive and take up 2 seats. About 2 mins before curtain up, she stood up, squeezed passed everyone and asked me to move my coat so she could sit down. I said it wasn’t her seat and she said it was. I showed my tickets and said as you can see these seats are mine. She then said, but if you move your coat I can get a better view. I kept calm and said that I think she misunderstands, I always pay for 2 seats so I have somewhere to keep my coat and bag. You should have seen the look on her face! Normally if people are nice I would have had no issues. She then had to disturb everyone again as she went back to her end of aisle seat |
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Post by theatregoer22 on Feb 26, 2023 13:47:18 GMT
I've recently got back into going to the theatre and so far I've encountered the following: At the Garrick for Orlando a stranger was sat in one of the seats I'd booked. As the friend I was meant to go with was unwell and the other seat I had a ticket for was unoccupied, I didn't make a fuss. At Les Mis at the Sondheim I had noisy eaters a couple of rows in front as well as someone who kept checking the home screen on their phone. Perhaps unsurprisingly &Juliet at The Shaftesbury Theatre was the worst one so far. I was totally fine with the big group whooping and cheering, but the couple in front of me who kept talking and pouring out wine into glasses mid show were getting on my nerves and I ended up telling them to be quiet. Thankfully they actually stayed silent after that (and stopped pouring the wine) and it didn't stop me absolutely loving the show. I used to go to the theatre in London fairly regularly between 1999-2008 and aside from telling my Mum to stop singing during one musical (which she didn't take kindly to) I don't recall audience behaviour being so bad, helped by smartphones not being a thing. Also, not the theatre, but I went to a preview screening of Matilda the Musical as part of the London Film Festival (run by the BFI). Unknown to me when I booked my ticket, the BFI had invited a load of school groups along. Virtually none of the kids were capable of sitting still for two hours, so my focus on the film was distracted by a constant stream of children getting up mid film. I also heard other audience goers had their seats kicked and heard children talking throughout. I was once at a show, think possibly Les Mis and my husband was unable to make it. I sat in one of the 2 seats and placed my bag and coat on the spare (I couldn’t get anyone to come with me). A woman was sat further down in the row and had obviously seen me arrive and take up 2 seats. About 2 mins before curtain up, she stood up, squeezed passed everyone and asked me to move my coat so she could sit down. I said it wasn’t her seat and she said it was. I showed my tickets and said as you can see these seats are mine. She then said, but if you move your coat I can get a better view. I kept calm and said that I think she misunderstands, I always pay for 2 seats so I have somewhere to keep my coat and bag. You should have seen the look on her face! Normally if people are nice I would have had no issues. She then had to disturb everyone again as she went back to her end of aisle seat I don't blame you for not wanting to let her sit next to you with that attitude! |
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146 posts
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Post by matilda1 on Feb 26, 2023 21:40:02 GMT
Police called to the Palace theatre, Manchester last night. Rocky Horror Show!
Security personnel assaulted and culprits arrested and taken off in a van!
Police attending a regular occurrence now, almost always linked to alcohol.
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Post by yokollama on Feb 26, 2023 22:40:00 GMT
I've a good behaviour to share instead (although calling it so sounds wrong, as if it's expected). Shout out to a theatregoer at Noises Off over the weekend. He came into the auditorium with his large hair and plomped himself in his seat. As you'd expect, his hair seemed to obscure the view for the poor person seated behind him. However, as the lights went down, he promptly slid an elastic down his hair so that it wrapped close to his scalp. It's just nice to see such consideration (although I wouldn't begrudge anyone with naturally big hair for not doing so either!).
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1,819 posts
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Post by stevej678 on Feb 26, 2023 23:27:59 GMT
Police called to the Palace theatre, Manchester last night. Rocky Horror Show! Security personnel assaulted and culprits arrested and taken off in a van! Police attending a regular occurrence now, almost always linked to alcohol. Isn't The Lion King still on at the Palace? |
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19,688 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 27, 2023 8:37:22 GMT
Yes, Rocky Horror was at the Opera House.
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146 posts
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Post by matilda1 on Feb 27, 2023 9:12:33 GMT
Lion King is still on at the Palace.
Better audience behaviour there.
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Post by NorthernAlien on Feb 27, 2023 13:38:25 GMT
Police called to the Palace theatre, Manchester last night. Rocky Horror Show! Security personnel assaulted and culprits arrested and taken off in a van! Police attending a regular occurrence now, almost always linked to alcohol. Whilst I don't doubt that this is plausible, is there any reporting on this? Because I've looked on the MEN website, and Twitter, and I can't see anything about this at all. RHS is usually an exuberant but ultimately law-abiding crowd? |
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146 posts
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Post by matilda1 on Feb 27, 2023 23:09:35 GMT
I know someone working FOH.
Police involvement happens so often now that it is just accepted I think.
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19,688 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 28, 2023 7:58:56 GMT
ATG can’t complain because the pre-performance email for Rocky has a paragraph about the action on stage being the performance so keep your gobs shut and stay in your seat (in so many words) but the following paragraph invites people to come early and get ratted have a drink in our bars before the show. It also starts at 8pm presumably to extend the amount of drinking time available.
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146 posts
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Post by matilda1 on Feb 28, 2023 9:28:57 GMT
Unfortunately the theatre makes little or nothing from ticket sales, hence the sale of alcohol.
Add to this the fact that many people arrived already drunk and continue to drink during the performance, and you have a recipe for disaster.
Another factor is that the theatre are unable to provide enough FOH staff because who wants to be verbally and sometimes physically abused on a regular basis??
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19,688 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 28, 2023 9:43:41 GMT
There is nothing to stop theatres having a proportion of their FOH with a background in venue security / door work. I think there should be at least one such person at every performance. Yes they may spend 90% of their time checking tickets or other duties but when things start getting “tasty” there needs to someone who is trained and qualified to deal with those situations.
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146 posts
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Post by matilda1 on Feb 28, 2023 10:02:04 GMT
I agree.
The theatre is being used more as an arena during certain performances eg tribute acts.
I know that FOH staff have been asking for “security” staff to be brought in for some time.
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Post by ladidah on Feb 28, 2023 10:20:17 GMT
I completely agree, people drink before the show and then before and during - then behave terribly.
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Post by sfsusan on Feb 28, 2023 13:51:49 GMT
people drink before the show and then before and during - then behave terribly. I know the theater would lose revenue, but could they legally refuse to sell to someone who's clearly already intoxicated? |
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5,144 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Feb 28, 2023 14:13:47 GMT
people drink before the show and then before and during - then behave terribly. I know the theater would lose revenue, but could they legally refuse to sell to someone who's clearly already intoxicated? Not only could they refuse, they are legally obliged to refuse. It's a licensing condition. |
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Post by Deal J on Feb 28, 2023 15:49:40 GMT
Yes I've seen punters be refused alcohol at an ATG because they've had too many. If they kick up a fuss after that, I think it gives a reason to make it easier for the staff to get them removed from the premises.
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Post by marob on Mar 1, 2023 17:35:31 GMT
Matinee of Mother Goose at the Liverpool Empire. Right near the end, and about three quarters of the way through John Bishop’s sonnet someone shouted out “stick to the jokes, John.” He carried on for a few seconds, then he decided he wasn’t going to let it go and said “shut up, knobhead.” Got a round of applause from the audience. McKellen didn’t say anything, but had some furious looks in the direction the shout came from.
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19,688 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 1, 2023 18:16:35 GMT
Matinee of Mother Goose at the Liverpool Empire. Right near the end, and about three quarters of the way through John Bishop’s sonnet someone shouted out “stick to the jokes, John.” He carried on for a few seconds, then he decided he wasn’t going to let it go and said “shut up, knobhead.” Got a round of applause from the audience. McKellen didn’t say anything, but had some furious looks in the direction the shout came from. Is that bad behaviour? It’s an interactive show by all accounts (from our thread), if audience members are being subjected to waterguns, inflatable balls, ad libs etc etc isn’t it ok for someone to return the favour to one of the actors? Sounds like John Bishop was being a bit of a stroppy diva, supported by the dreadful McKellen. |
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Post by marob on Mar 1, 2023 18:35:38 GMT
BurlyBeaR You do have a point. But it’s a moment that’s quite different to the more anarchic pantomime stuff. It’s supposed to be John Bishop reciting “shall I compare thee to a summer’s day…” to win back McKellen’s dame. Not really the time to call something out. Was also good behaviour on show though. Anna-Jane Casey was able to sing Don’t Rain on My Parade all the way to the end of the last paraaaaaaaaaaade before people clapped. Wish that wasn’t such a rarity.
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