Sometimes we overlook the protocols, unwritten rules and regulations of the way things are done in theatre. There are a number common sense protocols in which to employ when being part of an audience for a particular show. These 13 rules of the theater etiquette help you know what is expected and how not to make a spectacle of yourself.
1. No talking during performances
The stands to reason if you are talking throughout the performance while the actors are on stage, you will very likely be heard by the actors and or other audience members around you. This is highly distracting for the actors as they are trying to concentrate on their own objectives and can easily get distracted by what an audience is doing.
Other audience members will get very irritated very quickly if they hear constant chatting between people about the show and all about their own take on it. So please if this is you hush throughout the entire show.
2. No eating during the performances
Most theatres do not permit people to eat during a performance. However some children’s productions may allow children to eat.
If you were going to eat during a performance and you are allowed to, please do not unwrap noisy wrapping or take your time when unwrapping your food. This can distract other audience members around you.
Do not talk to the children while handing out food and disrupt others around you. Try and have the food sorted before the show begins.
Try not to have strong smelling food such as fast food. It does permeate throughout the theater and irritate.
It has been noted in a particular professional production in Wellington New Zealand, with Rima Tewiata a professional actress, that she stormed off stage after she heard a man wrestling with his candy packets during the performance.
Clearly food was not permitted in that theatre during that show and the actors felt that the audience member disregarded the writing, direction and theme of the play.
3. No singing along to Musicals
If you make a decision to sing along to the lyrics, words and songs from the musical you are attending, you may very well irritate fellow audience members.
They have paid money to hear the cast members sing not you singing beside them. Even if it is known such as the Rocky Horror Picture Show to sing along to the movie itself, it is not the done thing to sing along during the theatrical production.
I myself the author, have sung along to the Rocky horror picture show performance and got a lot of scowls ( and rightfully so) around me from fellow audience members. And so, let’s just say I learned my lesson.
4. No calling out from the audience to the cast on stage (unless audience participation)
No calling out in response to what is happening on stage by an audience member. This is highly distracting from the performers point of view and again irritating for fellow audience members. People have paid their money not to hear you comment or call out, they have paid money to listen to the cast members themselves.
Heckling is calling out and calling out for laughs at the actors expense. This happens a lot especially when alcohol is involved somewhere along the line.
However Heckling can occur at any type of performance but specifically comedies. If you are at heckler you need to pull it back and stop showing off because that’s what it is.
I the author have sat in a production we are audience members have called out to the cast members spontaneously, and the cast have been quite shocked and tried to hold it together.
I’ve also worked on dinner theatre where it is known and popular for audience members to call out at the performers on stage, and usually this is done in good spirit, however audience sometimes audience members take it to the next level.
This is when good sense is needed. Sometimes alcohol can be a real problem and dinner theatre.
Related Post
Theater Superstitions and Sayings you Should Know. Do check out my other blog post here.
Check out this blog post for actors for etiquette in the theater. Also this post for etiquette during technical dress rehearsal.
5. No Cell Phone use at all and the Theater Ever
Do not use your cell phone and turn it completely off while you were watching a show. There’s nothing worse than someone taking a phone call during the middle of a performance.
The blue from the phone it’s very distracting so please do not ever use your cell phone during a performance.
6. No kicking the back seat of the person in front of you
Please respect the person in front of you but keeping your feet away from the backs of the chairs of the people in front of you. In your absentmindedness you may think that you are not touching the front seat but you’re very may well be.
The person in front of you will feel the heel of your foot in the middle of the back so please think about that.
7. No telling your neighbours the plot
This is very distracting with someone in front of you or sitting at your side are talking to their neighbours about the plot of the story. It’s annoying and downright rude.
You have paid your money not to let the plot slip to the people around you. Others have paid their money not to hear the plot being spelt out.
So if you think by telling your children what happens next is good thing , think about the audience around you and how frustrating that can be.
8. When buying a program, have the correct money
Often ushers and program sellers have some cash to exchange with audience members. However they are not a rolling bank. Plus a lot of them will not have an eft Pos machine on them.
So it is best if the program costs $20 that you paid the $20 in cash. Not having the correct change can frustrate but also panic the sellers especially if there are many other people wanting to buy a program behind them.
9. No taking photographs or video of the performance
This is a very important from the production (producers) point of view especially. They have to oblige by certain limitations and obligations through the contract when showcasing material.
Nearly all stage productions have a requirement that no filming and often photographs to be taken of the show unless it is allowed.
This is to ensure that copyright is held within the correct hands. It is also to ensure that other people do not take specific intellectual property such as set designs costume designs lighting designs and overall performance direction.
It is to help ensure that these works are not copied or taken without permission. Royalties paid out on every seat/ticket sold and by conforming to the rules and regulations such as not taking photographs and video this will help the original creators of the production from losing money by other production companies stealing ideas.
10. What to wear
That’s all depends on the production at hand. If you were going to an opera it’s best to dress semi formal to formal. However people have gotten away with casual. A midriff showing might raise eyebrows.
You can check online to see if past performance is required certain dress types from the audience. You could even ring the venue itself.
In general terms you want to dress neatly, respectfully and basically dressed up. At times your tickets might state if you should dress formally such as a cocktail attire or not, but usually you are to dress neatly tidally and appropriate to the production you’re seeing.
12. Do not make a fuss with audience members around you
Try not to steal or hog armrests . Try not to butt people as you walk down the aisles. Also be aware of your bags as you walk past those who are already seated.
If you are tall, try to hunch a little in your seat, if you have hair which is done in a way which could obscure those behind, bring a hair tie.
Move your legs when people walk past you while you are seated. The number of times people forget to their legs out of the way is criminal.
13. Late comers
If you are late to a venue, sometimes that may mean you will not allow you to enter the main part of the theatre until the particular scene or act is over.
However many productions will allow you to walk in late. But if this is the case, you will cause a slight irritation with some audience members if you are late while the show is running.
Be on time yay.
No Nos’ from the audience point of view
- No talking during performances
- No eating during theatrical performances
- No singing along to musicals
- No calling out from the audience to the stage unless it’s called for
- No ringing or use of cell phones during the performance
- No kicking the back seat of the person in front of you
- No telling your neighbours’ the plot
- Buying a program for the show, try to have the correct change especially using money
- No heckling from the audience
- Do not take video or photographs of the cast members on stage or of the seat itself
- Don’t Make a fuss with a fellow audience goers around you
In conclusion
Theatre etiquette requires an audience to understand how to best behave to allow the performance that I have paid for to go ahead as planned. By following these simple rules all members of the audience can enjoy the performance around them.
