There is an unwritten rule within the West End that theatregoers follow a certain etiquette: arrive on time and keep noise to a minimum.
Yet it seems some viewers still need a lesson on how to behave in the theatre to ensure everyone - including the cast - gets an enjoyable evening.
This week, Heathers: The Musical star at drunken audience members and rowdy superfans.
It sparked a huge debate online from fans threatening to boycott the West End if something isn't put in place to stop disruption ruining shows.
It seems the pre-show reminder of switching off your phone and banning any use of filming or photography needs updating with a list of etiquette rules.
A user who claimed to be an experienced actor in the UK weighed in on the debate online and insisted we are now in an 'epidemic of rudeness', adding 'social etiquette is out of the window'.
They wrote: 'Professional and amateur theatre actor here with 20+ years experience in stages across the UK. Within the past few years audiences have become shockingly rude and treating the theatre space as if it were the cinema; talking loudly, on phones constantly, not engaging with the performance, smuggling in inappropriate food and heckling MY GOD the heckling.
'I’m an experienced actor so I continue the scene or break character and call them out and confidently resume the scene. However I’ve been in productions when actors get rocked by a drunken outburst and the play loses traction.
'It’s worse with the younger audiences or teenage crowd who frankly use the auditorium as there playground, putting their dirty shoes on the seats in front, on their phones or talking loudly or even walking out in front of the proscenium and making a scene. It’s an epidemic of rudeness that’s only going to get a hell of a lot worse because social etiquette is out of the window.'
There is an unwritten rule within the West End that theatregoers follow a certain etiquette: arrive on time and keep noise to a minimum
Fans shared their annoyance, writing: 'The pandemic really did something to people's ability to behave in shared spaces',
'Not to mention obstructed views due to all those phones being held up',
'I cant count the number of times i had to say something to people like that, why even be there if you are gonna be talking all the time', 'Etiquette in general is dead',
'Why are there not ushers escorting these feral people out?! I would hope that if there is drunken yelling etc the theater protects the experience for the performers and other audience members and removes them',
'This is partly why live art/cinema etc is dying. I'm not paying city break money for someone with main character syndrome to ruin my time',
'The venues need to start policing behavior if it’s come to this'.
It isn't the first time crumbling West End etiquette has sparked debate.
Many disturbances in the audience have happened over the years, .
Four audience members were thrown out of West End's Grease The Musical for 'for being loud and abusive'.
Months prior at Bat Out Of Hell: The Musical in London, midway through.
He was heard to shout 'f***ing c***s' at the assembly before he was shown the door by security.
when theatregoers started singing over the lead during the final number in 2023.
Yet it seems some viewers still need a lesson in how to behave in the theatre to ensure everyone - including the cast - gets an enjoyable evening
This week, Heathers: The Musical star Kate Rockwell launched a frustrated tirade at drunken audience members and rowdy superfans
Applying her passions for the stage into her outburst, she first wrote a gentle message to fans to alert them to theatre etiquette
She wrote: 'Singing along at the top of your voice, doing a version of the choreography in your chair, screaming the lines along with the actors… this is not “fun” for us onstage'
and claimed rowdy theatregoers should be banned for life, while comedian Mike McClean thought such punishment would be excessive.
The former EastEnders actress there is a 'theatre etiquette' that people have forgot about.
She said on GMB: 'There's a theatre etiquette which is no longer there really anymore because people would never have done that even ten years ago.
'Thinks like Mama Mia and shows like that, they have an ending that you can get up and sing and dance and I think that's fantastic. But during the show you have to sit and watch.
'There people have trained for years, musical artists are the best in the world, they are like Olympic athletes.
'People think they are home watching TV. I don't think they realise that you on stage can see them and hear them. I think a lifetime ban, unless they apologise.'
Mike claimed a lifetime ban was too 'harsh' saying people should be allowed to sing along and enjoy the night.
He said: 'I was caught speeding and I only got a six month ban, footballers they get a three match ban. A lifetime ban from a theatre is a little bit harsh.
He joked: 'Or you could put them on the stage and let them sing that song to audience.'
To find out what's acceptable at the theatre and what's strictly verboten, Daily Mail previously reached out to etiquette experts to find out how to behave.
Etiquette expert Lisa Mirza Grotts, who's also a former board member of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and president of the San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary, said 'when the curtain rises, so should everyone's decorum.'
'Your seat is not your living room,' Lisa, also known as the Golden Rules Gal, explained. 'Show respect for those in the spotlight: actors, musicians, dancers, and fellow patrons.'
When it comes to texting, Lisa said 'the only spotlight should be on the stage, not your phone. A glowing screen is disruptive to everyone. Power down and tune in.'
As for dining, Lisa said 'save the gum, candy, and chatter for after the show. If it makes noise, it doesn't belong until intermission.'
As for rude patrons, Lisa advised 'never engaging,' and instead, politely asking an usher for assistance if someone is being disruptive.
Heathers: The Musical star Kate is the latest star to rage over the behaviour of viewers on Instagram as she discussed appropriate theatre etiquette.
The hit musical, based on the 1988 film of the same name, has run off-Broadway since 2014 and Kate joined the cast last year as a temporary replacement for Kerry Butler in the role as teacher Ms. Fleming.
On Wednesday, she shared a note encouraging young 'incredibly passionate, devoted fans' not to singalong regardless of their love for the show, writing: 'Please, when you're in the audience, let us do the work. That's what you paid for!!'
As well as her message aimed at young fans, she also hit out at drunken hecklers for 'screaming s**t' and 'losing their ability to be a decent human beings', writing: 'If you want to talk through something, stay home and watch '.
A Reddit user who claimed to be an experienced actor in the UK weighed in on the debate online and insisted we are now in an 'epidemic of rudeness'
It sparked a huge debate online from fans threatening to boycott the West End if something isn't put in place to stop disruption ruining shows
Kate's previous theatre accolades include starring in Bring It On: The Musical, Rock Of Ages, Mean Girls and The Sounds Of Music.
Applying her passions for the stage into her outburst, she first wrote a gentle message to fans to alert them to theatre etiquette.
Her first message read: 'TO ALL MY YOUNG(ISH) THEATER FANS. I know it is exciting to see a show you love — especially if you've loved it a long time and know every word by heart...
'Heathers has some incredibly passionate, devoted fans and we love to see that. However. Here comes my mom voice...
'Singing along at the top of your voice, doing a version of the choreography in your chair, screaming the lines along with the actors… this is not “fun” for us onstage...
'It doesn't make you a part of the action — and it's wildly distracting to both the actors onstage and to the rest of the audience — who also paid to see the same show as you did.
'You might sometimes see other people in the audience, especially people who have perhaps been over-served at the lobby bar, doing this stuff too, or screaming what might sound like supportive things at inappropriate times...
'Don't let those people fool you — that's not ok. And we do not like it.
'I know you aren't trying to be disrespectful. I know you are just having a great experience. We want to make sure that everyone, onstage and off, gets to have an equally great experience.
You can sing along with the cast recording, or a slime tutorial (we won't get mad). You can do the choreo at school or in your living room. But please, when you're in the audience, let us do the work. That's what you paid for!! Mom speech: done'.
She then targeted drunken members, writing: 'And if you’re an adult, and you think it’s “fun” or “cute” to scream sh*t at the actors, or comment on what you’re watching, or you had one too many cocktails and you’ve lost your ability to be a decent human being at someone else’s workplace (which the theater is… for many, many people)…
'See. yourself. out. Live performance takes focus and concentration and deserves respect — but more than that, who do you think you are, taking away from the rest of the audience’s experience?! grow up.
'If you want to talk through something, stay home and watch netflix.'
When her role in the show was announced and in light of her roles in high school-set productions, she said: It makes total sense to me—I’ve survived high school multiple times, so I feel totally qualified to graduate to staff!'
