Donmar Warehouse Warnings

Sadly common in the States, some of the stuff in the regional theatres there makes you wonder if they are actually trying to put people off!

There have been more than a few productions I've seen where I'd have appreciated a prior notice along the lines of "Warning: This show is crap". But I don't think that's what they intend.

I totally disagree. Warnings have been routine since the early days of cinema (the ratings system and BBFC warnings on posters and, more detailed, online), while the increasingly lengthy trailers for film and TV give you a very good idea of the tone and violent content an upcoming drama will contain. Until the 1960s plays were censored for strong content. As for TV, content warnings before a drama starts are also routine and - crucially - if you don't like the way a TV show is going, you can pick up your handset and turn over.

If you don't like what's on screen in a cinema you can just walk out.

You can't walk out in the theatre. Once you take your seat you are stuck there until the interval, unless you want to disturb both the audience AND the actors on stage.

And, crucially, good theatre is a far more intense experience than TV or film. It's why it still exists.

If your lives have been so untroubled that nothing on stage disturbs you, lucky you. That's not the case for some of us. I have clinical anxiety, have had some pretty bad experiences in life and I like to be able to look up content warnings should I need to. I'm not talking about a theatre putting a placard up saying 'contains gunshots' - that will spoil the plot - but flagging up content warnings that you can ask ushers or FOH staff about is VERY welcome.

The Donmar did NOT put up spoilers on the walls - the details were online. You had to look them up. 

The Donmar haven’t done anything, like many theatres they have information available about sensitive content (eg portrayals of rape) so people with PTSD or similar can avoid something that might cause them to have a panic attack. You have to actively search for it on the Donmar site, you can’t stumble onto it by accident. The press are getting their knickers in a twist over something that isn’t new and is standard practice.

Do you really think a rape survivor is being a “snowflake” by not wanting to witness a rape scene?? Imo the snowflakes are the ones throwing their toys out the pram over something that doesn’t affect then and which they’ll never see unless they go looking for it.

I'm not easily offended but some people are, so fair enough, put vague warnings about strong language or violence. but I'm really not a fan of the more detailed content warnings.

One that pops up regularly are warnings about gunshots, but then you just end up waiting for someone to be shot. Years ago, there was an episode of The Sopranos that was spoiled by Channel 4 (or E4?) warning about sexual violence. So rather than a really shocking scene coming out of the blue, as the creators intended, the context changes and you're instead placed in the weird and pretty creepy postion of waiting for a character to be attacked.

I always wonder how people who are offended by swearing go about their day-to-day business. I hear people swear all the time, with no regard to who's listening, so are they just offended constantly? How do they not become immune it?

I just don't like censorship in general. On TV especially, I think there's too much self-censorship. There was an episode of Coach Trip (used to be a guilty pleasure) where they bleeped out someone saying Goddamn. Is that really necessary? It seems to be becoming common practice to avoid showing nudity, or blur it out, even after the watershed. Then there's double standards where the issue of racism is generally avoided at all cost by UK productions, yet they'll happily broadcast something like Angry Boys, where a white comedian is blacked up and frequently uses "The N Word".

Even the news seems to constantly try not to offend people. I don't think the image of the drowned migrant father and daughter was broadcast, was it? Back when New Orleans flooded after Hurricane Katrina they showed countless bodies just lying or floating in the streets. It was disturbing, yes, but it bloody well should be.

Sorry I've gone off on a tangent and rambled on too much, but to me this is just one tiny part of a huge issue.

I don't see a problem with the way they have done this. It's no different from other theatres which say on the website they will provide content warnings if you contact them. For the Donmar you have to specifically look for this info:

each production page says


That links here with links to content warning for each production - www.donmarwarehouse.com/visit/content-advisories/

Each of those pages displays a warning similar to what you might see on entry to the theatre. eg for Sweat - 

Then there's a spoiler protected section with specifics about sensitive scenes.

So if the general warning indicates you may have an issue, you can then check in detail if there will be a problem for you. Really can't see why anyone would object to this. The oversensitive people are the ones who get terribly offended by the concept of content warnings.

Totally agree. I am not going to see top girls because apparently there is sick in it. I would welcome such warnings. There is nothing wrong with not wanting to see certain stuff for whatever reason and I welcome the donmar initiative.

It’s funny to see people here objecting to this because we actually do it pretty regularly for people with concerns!

How often has someone posted to ask about blood/gore, because it makes them faint, and received a reply?

I’ve seen people flag up if emetophobes might have an issue with a scene.

‘Male nudity, no dogs’ became such a running jokes that it was turning up in thread titles for a while.

‘I’ve heard that this production contains xyz, which I find triggering, can someone please describe it for me in spoiler tags so I can decide whether I can watch this show or not?’ would never NOT get a helpful response here.

How is this any different?

Wonder if this current initiative is a reaction to feedback on this issue regarding Belleville?

Just remembered there was quite a bit of discussion here on “Man of La Mancha” and the general view seemed to be there should have been a stronger content warning for the assault scene in that

Good point regarding timing. For future productions they already have general info on sensitive themes and an email contact for further info. I guess for future seasons this could go up when the shows are announced

They don’t say what you are supposed to do if you buy a ticket then find from the warnings you can’t attend but i would imagine they would refund or exchange tickets for credit otherwise the whole thing is a bit pointless

And regarding comments on censorship - there is no censorship happening. Providing warnings means they are able to continue to present “difficult” content.