On Theatre Etiquette: Some Do's and Don'ts Our Head Reviewer Stuart King considers the current hot discussion topic ignited by Lesley Manville’s comments and suggests some do’s and don’ts. Photo by Pedro Szekely.

In light of Lesley Manville’s recent widely publicised comments — a few thoughts from a theatre reviewer.

www.londonboxoffice.co.uk/news/post/on...

#WestEnd #LondonTheatre #TheatreEtiquette #TheatreBloggers #Reviewers #PRCompanies

So called ‘theatre etiquette’ is incredibly ableist and alienates many disabled people (especially neurodivergent people)

I feel genuinely terrified when I go to the theatre due to having severe Tourettes. Because people can be awful. And scared I'll get kicked out.

#Tourettes #TheatreEtiquette

When the Spotlight Isn’t Yours: Going Viral by Accident (and How It Feels) On the 13th of October, I posted a review of _Macbeth_ at the Royal Shakespeare Company — a production that moved me deeply, starring Sam Heughan in a performance I will never see the same way again. I’d been sitting with that experience quietly for nearly a week, because it _deserved_ that kind of reflection. Reverence. Stillness. And then, suddenly, my blog blew up. In the span of 72 hours, I had more than 2,500 views. As I write this, the number continues to climb. That might not sound astronomical by influencer standards, but for me — someone who’s been blogging for nearly a decade with engagement that normally tops out around a few hundred a month — it was a _lot_. It was also completely disorienting. Not because I wasn’t proud of the post; I was. And I still am. But because the explosion didn’t happen because of one of my books. Or my historical essays. Or the posts I used to write back when I blogged every week with carefully crafted features and planned-out topics. No, this happened because I happened to write about a performance by a well-known actor. And then, because I dared to write a follow-up piece about _why photographing a live theatre performance is not okay_ , that gained even more traction. I went viral — not for my life’s work, but for being adjacent to someone else’s. * * * ### I Thought I’d Feel Better About It That’s the truth of it. These are the numbers bloggers dream of. And I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t hoped _someday_ for that kind of visibility. But when it happened, I didn’t feel elated. I felt … off-kilter. Because this kind of success is supposed to come from _your_ work, right? Not from reflecting on someone else’s. I don’t want this to sound ungrateful. I am deeply, deeply grateful for the people who’ve shared my posts, who’ve read with open minds, who’ve responded with compassion and insight. I’m especially grateful to Sam Heughan — for the performance that inspired all this, and for his generosity at the stage door. But I’m also holding something heavier. * * * ### The Grief Underneath Almost two years ago, I lost a dear friend: someone who helped shape the entire trajectory of my life. His name was Keith. I met him when I was a young reporter and he was a re-enactor and archaeologist. We were involved for a time, but more than that, we were _friends_ for over thirty years. And he was the first person I would have called when something like this happened. He would’ve teased me, of course. Called me famous. Laughed in that dry, knowing way of his. And then he would’ve told me how proud he was. He always supported my writing. Always believed in what I was trying to say. His absence has been a quiet ache through all of this. One I didn’t expect to feel quite so sharply. But when your voice finally gets heard, and the person who _always_ listened is no longer there … it lands differently. * * * ### The Ethics of Witnessing I wrote the second blog post because I saw something troubling: audience members taking photos during the performance, _despite clear announcements not to do so_. I hesitated before writing it. I didn’t want to shame anyone. But I couldn’t stay silent either. Theatre is a sacred space. It’s one of the few communal experiences left in a fractured world. When someone disregards that—for the sake of a blurry photo or a few likes—they’re not just breaking a rule. They’re stealing from the performance. From the actors. From their fellow audience members. Sam gave us everything. Raw vulnerability, rage, grief, power. He _sobbed_ onstage, curled around Lady Macbeth during _Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow_ — a scene that devastated me. That changed the way I’ll see the role forever. And some people met that moment with a shutter click. That’s not fandom. That’s entitlement. * * * ### So What Now? I don’t have neat answers. I just know I needed to write this … to make sense of what I’m feeling. To say that _yes_ , I’m grateful. But also? I’m still processing. Still trying to reclaim the sacredness of an experience that got caught up in something bigger and louder than I ever expected. If you’ve been one of the people reading, thank you. If you’re staying, I hope you’ll explore more of my work: my fiction, my essays, the heart of what I do. And if you’re here because you love theatre the way I do — because something in _Macbeth_ cracked you open — then maybe we’ve definitely got something in common. Thanks for listening. More soon … on my terms. ### Share this: * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram * Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * Click to print (Opens in new window) Print * Like Loading... ### _Related_

When the Spotlight Isn’t Yours: Going Viral by Accident (and How It Feels) sharonecathcart.wordpress.com/2025/10/16/when-the-spot... #livetheatre #samheughan #theatreetiquette #thescottishplay #thersc

When the Spotlight Isn’t Yours: Going Viral by Accident (and How It Feels) In 72 hours, my blog saw more engagement than any other time in the past several years. But the posts that went viral weren’t about my books or my fiction: they were about witnessing someone else’s…

When the Spotlight Isn’t Yours: Going Viral by Accident (and How It Feels) sharonecathcart.wordpress.com/2025/10/16/w... #livetheatre #samheughan #theatreetiquette #thescottishplay #thersc

10 Broadway Etiquette Mistakes - Building a Broader Broadway Look, we get it. You're excited to be at a Broadway show. Maybe you're new to the theater scene, maybe you're tagging along with a date, or maybe you just scored killer tickets and want to make the mo...

Before you hit your next Broadway show, make sure you’re not that guy ruining it for everyone else. 🎭

10 Broadway etiquette mistakes every bro should avoid:
broadwayforbros.com/10-broadway-...

#BroadwayForBros #Broadway #TheatreEtiquette #NYCTheatre #Musicals #BroadwayTips

The Kael Report on theatre etiquette in the 21st century is here: open.substack.com/pub/thekaelr...
#TheatreEtiquette #AudienceBehavior
#thekaelreportofficial
#StageEtiquette #ModernManners
#TheatreExperience
#westendtheatre
#AudienceBehavior
#theatrerules
#TheatreCodeOfConduct

So, you think you know theatre etiquette?

The Kael Report’s full investigation into theatre etiquette in the U.K. & U.S. is live: open.substack.com/pub/thekaelr...
#TheatreEtiquette #WestEnd #Broadway #ArtsJournalism
@NationalTheatre @TheRSC @BroadwayWorld @WhatsOnStage @TheStageUK @NYTimestheater

The Kael Report’s Guide to Theatre Etiquette in the Modern Age A Manual for Modern Theatregoing Conduct

Theatre has always been a reflection of its audience — but what happens when audience behavior starts to undermine the performance itself?

open.substack.com/pub/thekaelr...

#TheatreEtiquette #AudienceBehavior
#CultureCritic #ArtsBlog
#KnowBeforeYouGo #Etiquette101 #TheatreDiscourse

The Kael Report’s in-depth exploration of theatre etiquette goes live tomorrow, Tuesday 27 May. Sign up to the blog to be the first to read it.

thekaelreport.substack.com

#TheatreEtiquette #AudienceBehavior #thekaelreport
#StageEtiquette #ModernManners
#TheatreCodeOfConduct
#theatreetiquette

The Kael Report’s deep dive into theatre etiquette goes live on Tuesday, 27 May. Sign up to the blog to be the first to read it.
thekaelreport.substack.com
#TheatreEtiquette #AudienceBehavior #thekaelreportofficial
#AudienceBehavior
#TheatreCodeOfConduct
#theatreetiquette #theatreculture

Sign up to read it first: link in bio.

#theatreetiquette #livetheatre #TheatreCulture
#audiencebehavior #respectthearts #TheKaelReportOfficial #stageetiquette #modernmanners #theatrecommunity #supportthearts #PerformingArts
#theatreexperience #TheatreMatters
#westendtheatre #broadwaybuzz

I like a good peanut gallery but specifically for nighttime opening weekend showings of horror, action, comedy or thriller movies.

Doing active commentary for noon time showing on a Monday is ridiculous. Shaddap 🤫

#filmsky #moviesky #theater #theatre #theatreetiquette

FB reminded me of the outraged response to the sing along at a theatre vid doing the rounds on the other place in April 2023 - and the list I made of the example names of potential offenders in the QTs and replies:
8 Karens
4 Debbies
7 men
40 women

#theatreetiquette

To the person in front of me taking photos while Alan Menken talks about losing Howard Ashman... how dare you! Such disrespect and the audacity. You are told not to take photos. Rude and disgusting #TheatreEtiquette

So a little #TheatreEtiquette news from the KitKat club last night.... person to the right checked their phone during the 1st Act so obviously bright light. It would be off putting for the other audience members and the cast. Just Rude. Told FOH and stopped 🙂 why spend the money to be on the phone?

I'm not reposting the video of Cate doing the rounds but I'm disappointed in the person that recorded it. I like going to shows without knowing much if I can help it... the videos do spoil it somewhat... Do better! #TheatreEtiquette

I think with named stars performing in the west end it has led to an increasing number of recordings in the theatre... it doesn't matter who is in it or how much you paid if they say don't record or not to take photos...LISTEN/READ THE RULES... it's simple #TheatreEtiquette

Can people stop recording in the middle of Much Ado... seriously I'm seeing a fair few videos of it 🙄 You are told not to record at the start of the show and there are plenty of posters in the theatre telling you #TheatreEtiquette

So what is it with people and taking photos during a show? You are told at the beginning of the show to turn the phone off.... the entitlement of some people #TheatreEtiquette

There's a reason the signs are posted around theatre and the FOH hold up the signs... it isn't a suggestion 🙄 #TheatreEtiquette

To add a good news to #TheatreEtiquette the stage door etiquette was brilliant at The Tempest on Saturday evening... people queued in an orderly fashion, people being patient, no self entitled behaviour 10/10

Honestly getting sick and tired of people who think they are above the rules... if the show says no recording... guess what you can't record... it's a simple rule. In back to the future this weekend someone recorded the beginning and the first DeLorean scene #TheatreEtiquette 1/2

🙌🙌🙌🙌 #TheatreEtiquette

When you go to the theatre, Please SHUT UP when the show is happening. I paid to hear the people on stage, not your commentary. Save that for intermission or when you are not in the theatre.

Also, DON'T KICK PEOPLE's CHAIRS!!!!!!

😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡

#theatreetiquette

Honestly such disrespect to the production cast and crew #TheatreEtiquette

Ableight the Chesterfield pantomime being absolutely awful , some folk are so rude and don't understand #theatreetiquette! Full on adults having full blown conversations throughout the show , really annoys me. It's as bad as roadmen who go to the #cinema and sit on their phones all way through 🤬

Cynthia Erivo Says ‘Wicked’ Fans Should Sing Along in Movie Theaters: ‘It’s Time for Everyone Else To Join In’ "Wicked" star Cynthia Erivo has weighed in on an internet debate about audience conduct: Should fans sing along at the movie theater?

With all due respect... save it for the sing along version or on the car ride home... much like with theatre I pay to listen to the professionals... I don't want to hear an off key version... not here for it #TheatreEtiquette #CinemaEtiquette variety.com/2024/film/ne...

Moana 2: The Rock says people should feel free to sing in cinema Dwayne Johnson weighed in on the debate around cinema etiquette at the UK premiere of Moana 2

I'm just saying this no... no... no.. you pay your hard earned money to watch a film not to hear Debra from down the road butcher Defying Gravity www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... #CinemaEtiquette #TheatreEtiquette

Apparently Unpopular Opinion: musicals are not sing-a-longs. I didn’t pay upwards of $25 to hear a random drown out the professional who auditioned, rehearsed, and is now performing a narrative. I’m a fan too- that’s why I bought a ticket 🙄
(this also applies to movie musicals) #theatreetiquette

Just remember... unless the screening is a sing along screening... NO SINGING #TheatreEtiquette #CinemaEtiquette