Many people who are attending a theatrical production for the first time have questions about theatre etiquette. You might be concerned with what you should wear to the show or when you should give your applause. There are also quite a few questions regarding behavior that should be asked, but are seldom a prior concern, leading to embarrassment. Going to a play is an exciting way to spend your day or evening, but it is much different that going to a movie or concert for your favorite music group. You must behave in a way that allows the others around you to enjoy the show and will not disrupt the performance of the elite actors or production crew. To help your time at the theater be much more enjoyable, here are five tips for proper theatre etiquette.
1. Silence the Cell Phone
Most are pretty good about remembering to silence their cell phone before they attending a performance at the theatre, but there are normally one or two people who make the mistake of forgetting. They stand out from the crowd when their phone bursts into a sub-quality recording of the local pop-culture favorites. This can be quite distracting to other members of the audience as well as cast members.
2. Do Not Text
A theatre is generally kept quite dark to bring focus to the performance on the stage. this effect is lessened by the glowing light of cell phones belonging to people who cannot wait to send a text message or check social media applications. This is very distracting behavior and can take away from another person’s experience at the theatre. Be polite and remember, that text can wait.
3. Noise
Theatres are also very quiet, save for the performance itself. Unnecessary noise from members of the audience can cause other members to miss bits of the performance. Distractions such as talking, unwrapping hard candy, coughing or horseplay should be avoided. There are times that laughter and clapping is both appreciated and welcomes, this is the type of noise that the actors and stage crew prefer to hear.
4. Singing
It may be tempting at times to sing along with some of the songs that are performed during the performance. It is important that you remember to let the cast perform the show as you sit back and enjoy. Singing with the performance can be distracting to those around you and take away from the music coming from the stage.
5. Let Your Feelings Be Your Guide
Standing ovations are quite overdone. It seems that every performance warrants this high show of appreciation from the audience, even if it was not that great. On your night at the theatre, let your feelings of the production be your guide to give a standing ovation.
If you would like more information on attending an excellent performance in the future, visit our tickets page or contact a representative with Lionheart Theatre Company today.