Dealing with disruptive audience members politely?

Question

Has anyone had experience with noisy or distracting people during a show? What&#8217;s the best way to handle it without causing more disruption? Should you involve an usher?

Answer

I didn’t see it live myself, but there was that David Tennant Macbeth at the Harold Pinter incident last year. They had to pause for around 15 minutes because someone caused a scene coming back late from the loo. Whole thing stopped until they were escorted out

Answer

I’ve been to a few performances where cast members broke character to call out bad behaviour. It made headlines, but I’m not sure it helps. Has anyone witnessed that live?

Answer

I usually lean over at the interval and have a quiet word. Most people don’t even realise how much their whispers carry. But if it’s mid-scene, I always get an usher involved.

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Thanks for raising this, it's become more common than we'd like, hasn't it? I once had chatter beside me outdo the performance, and I simply gave the usher a discreet nod. They handled it swiftly without ruffling feathers.

hjj · Answer

I’ve unfortunately encountered this few times over the years. It’s truly frustrating when a few individuals disrupt the magic of a live performance. My golden rule, and one I’ve found to be the most effective, is to always involve an usher.

Here’s why:

1) Avoid confrontation: Directly confronting disruptive audience members can escalate the situation and create even more of a scene, which is the last thing you want during a show. It’s not your job to police the audience.
2) Usher’s role: Ushers and front-of-house staff are trained to handle these situations discreetly and professionally. It’s literally part of their job to ensure everyone has an enjoyable experience. They know how to approach people without causing a fuss.
3) Discretion: A good usher will handle it subtly. They might have a quiet word with the individuals, or if the behaviour persists, they can move them or even ask them to leave. All without you having to say a word to the disruptive party yourself.

When to involve an usher?
- Persistent talking/rustling or phone use that’s impacting people around you
- Bright phone screens in a dark auditorium
- Visible drunkenness or overly boisterous behaviour

How to do it politely?
During the performance, if it’s truly unbearable, you can discreetly catch the eye of an usher (they’re usually at the back or sides of the auditorium) and give a subtle signal. If you can wait until the interval, even better: find an usher, explain calmly where the disruption is, and they’ll take it from there.

I’ve seen performances halted because of extreme disruption, and it’s such a shame for everyone involved. So, honestly, don’t try to be a hero—let the professionals handle it. It’s the most polite and effective way to keep the show running smoothly for everyone.