The definitive list of rules every theatregoer should abide by | WhatsOnStage (2024)

If you are reading this article, the likelihood is that you go to the theatre. From this assumption we can also assume that you have had to put up with ringing phones, rustling sweet packets and latecomers.

Aside from the announcement before most shows to turn off your phones, theatregoers are generally not told what they can and can't do, so we thought we'd give them the benefit of the doubt... until now.

Below is our definitive rules that every theatregoer should abide by. Read them, share them and follow them religiously and one day we may just be able to rely on a distraction-free visit to the theatre.

1. Don't just put your phone on silent, turn it off

Unless you are Cameron Mackintosh himself - in which case you're sitting in a box and can do what you want - life is not busy enough to demand that your phone stays on 24/7. Take this opportunity to escape from technology and social media. Press that button on top of the phone, the one that is still in pristine condition because you've never used it, and TURN OFF YOUR PHONE.

2. Arrive on time

Most shows start between 7:30pm and 8pm, most people finish work between 5pm and 6pm. This gives you at least 90 minutes to get from work to the theatre. If you are going for a meal, book somewhere close to the theatre and stick to two courses (skip dessert and have an ice cream in the interval).

3. Go to the toilet BEFORE the show starts

We know that queues for the toilet in a theatre can be as long as the Nile, but getting up during the performance to empty your bladder is not acceptable, it's distracting to those around you and often to those on stage. So either join the queue or go before you get to the theatre, we hear McDonalds toilets are lovely.

4. If you have to eat, only eat QUIET food

If you decide to forgo dinner in order to get to the theatre on time, thank you for being considerate. However do not counteract this act of kindness by proceeding to eat the loudest foods known to man. Common offenders include crisps, any sweets in a wrapper and popcorn. If you absolutely can't wait until the interval to eat, choose quiet foods like marshmallows, soft bread or bananas. For extra brownie points, unwrap any foodstuff before the performance begins.

NB: If any designers are reading this, please can you design a silent crisp packet/sweet wrapper? Thanks in advance.

5. If you have to eat, only eat ODOURLESS food

Skipping the restaurant to be on time does not mean you can bring your meal with you. Our readers have reported instances of Burger King, Kebab and Chinese take-away being eaten next to them during a show. Our experience of Hamlet is going to be severely distorted if there is a sudden whiff of szechuan chicken whilst the Prince of Denmark stabs Polonius. "How now, a rat?"- Quite possibly, if you bought it in Soho...

6. Don't give your partner a running commentary

Most playwrights are skilled enough to write a play in a way that provides you with the information that you need to understand what is going on. Whilst it is tempting to prove your intelligence by continually explaining the plot to your partner, it is extremely annoying to those around you who would rather listen to the actors than you, especially if you are leaning over and blocking the view of those around you. If your partner asks you a question, we suggest a finger to the lips as the appropriate and least distracting response.

7. Don't talk through the overture or songs

Musical numbers are not like ad breaks on TV. Please do not mistake moments of increased volume for an opportunity to have a chin wag, it's rude, distracting and more than anything you will miss out on the fabulous jazz hands!

8. Don't sing along with the songs

Now that you have learnt not to talk during the songs, please do not sing along with them (unless you are at Singalong to Frozen at the Prince Charles Cinema). People around you have paid to listen to the performances on stage not you, save it for the shower. Same goes for quoting dialogue in plays, congratulations you know Ayckbourn like the back of your hand, we don't need to hear it.

9. Share the armrests

We know some theatres are cramped, but unless you are Giant Haystacks (and we know you are not), there is plenty of armrest to go around. Be kind and share.

10. No taking photos or videos in the theatre

So you've managed to get a ticket to see Benedict Cumberbatch in Hamlet, lucky you. We're sure your love for Sherlock is only outweighed by your admiration for the Great Bard, but please do not spend the performance of the show trying to get a photo that is good enough quality to post on facebook. Not only have you broken our first rule and not turned off phone, but when that flash accidentally goes off whilst you are trying to be stealth (it's happened to all of us) it's going to be very distracting for dear old Benny.

Have we missed any out? Are there any rules of your own that you would like to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below!

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The definitive list of rules every theatregoer should abide by | WhatsOnStage (2024)

FAQs

What are the 7 rules in theatre audience etiquette? ›

Theater Etiquette
  • Turn Off Your Cell Phone. ...
  • Don't Send Text Messages During the Show. ...
  • There is no photography or videoing allowed in the theater. ...
  • Eat Your Dinner Before the Show, Not DURING It. ...
  • If You Have To Cough, Cover Your Mouth. ...
  • Unwrap Cough Drops and Candies in Advance. ...
  • Don't Be A Disruptive Miss (or Mr.)

What are the rules of theatre? ›

Theatre Audience Etiquette
  • No talking, unless audience participation is requested by the performers. If something must be said, whisper it quickly. ...
  • Use good posture. ...
  • Remove hats. ...
  • Noises off. ...
  • Lights out. ...
  • Snap, crackle, pop. ...
  • Control coughing. ...
  • Avoid other sounds that can disturb the people around you and the performers.

What is theater etiquette for actors? ›

Respect the work of your fellow actors. Don't talk, text, email, or eat noisy or smelly food while they're working. Be respectful and quiet outside the room. Be patient—you want the director to take as much time with you as s/he is taking with your castmates.

What are the 10 rules of etiquette? ›

Basic Etiquette
  • Be yourself – and allow others to treat you with respect. Let this one sink in, ladies. ...
  • Say “Thank You” ...
  • Give Genuine Compliments. ...
  • Don't be Boastful, Arrogant or Loud. ...
  • Listen Before Speaking. ...
  • Speak with Kindness and Caution. ...
  • Do Not Criticize or Complain. ...
  • Be Punctual.

What are the 12 elements of theatre? ›

Role and character, relationships, situation, voice, movement, focus, tension, space, time, language, symbol, audience, mood and atmosphere.

What are some safety rules for theatre? ›

  • Always wear hard soled/closed toe shoes.
  • No loose fitting clothes around power equipment.
  • Long hair should be tied back.
  • Wear goggles/face shields or safety glasses while using power equipment.
  • Wear ear muffs/plugs if you're around loud noise for a long time.
  • Wear gloves to protect against cuts and solvents.

What are the 8 elements of theatre? ›

To sum up, the following are the major elements of theater:
  • Performers.
  • Audience.
  • Director.
  • Theater Space.
  • Design Aspects (scenery, costume, lighting, and sound)
  • Text (which includes focus, purpose, point of view,

Why is it important to have rules in a theatre? ›

Theatre etiquette extends to the audience.

At their heart of it, everybody in a production really does want to do their best. Everybody wants a safe place. Everybody wants adulation from the audience. Following theatre etiquette rules means that the audience gets the respect they deserve.

What is the most important rule of audience etiquette? ›

Stay quiet throughout the show.

Aside from a ringing cell phone, talking during a performance is the most distracting offense of theatre etiquette. Don't turn to your neighbor and ask what's going on. Hold out until intermission. The more you talk, the more the people around can't hear the people onstage.

What are the 3 basic rules of etiquette in the workplace? ›

5 Workplace Etiquette Tips Every Professional Should Know
  • Make a Good First Impression. ...
  • Avoid Gossip. ...
  • Communication is Key. ...
  • Understand your Work Environment. ...
  • Be Personable Yet Professional.

What are three common rules of etiquette? ›

All manners traditionally convey one or more of the 3 Principles of Etiquette: Respect, Consideration, and Honesty.

What is the golden rule in theatre? ›

Be kind.

This is hands down the most important rule in theatre. No matter how much you may hate your job or how much you dislike a co-worker, you must always always be kind.

What are the theater ethics? ›

I will never miss a performance. I shall play every performance to the best of my ability, regardless of how small my role or large my personal problems. I will respect my audience regardless of size or station. I shall never miss an entrance or cause a curtain to be late by my failure to be ready.

What are 20 good manners? ›

List of 20 Important Manners Children Need to Learn
  • Ask, Don't Take. Train your children to ask before they take something by using words like “May I” or “Can I.” ...
  • Say Please and Thank You. ...
  • Share. ...
  • Apologize Sincerely. ...
  • Offer to Help Without Being Asked. ...
  • Say Excuse Me. ...
  • Know Basic Table Manners. ...
  • Listen Carefully.
Sep 7, 2021

What are good rules to follow? ›

Sample List of Family Rules
  • Treat People and Property With Respect.
  • Knock on Closed Doors Before Entering.
  • Pick up After Yourself.
  • Electronics Curfew.
  • Make Amends When You Hurt Someone.
  • Tell the Truth.
  • Practice Good Dental and Body Hygiene.
  • Attend Family Meetings.
Oct 5, 2022

What are some respectful rules? ›

7 Ways to Be Respectful (And a One-Step Trick to Getting More Respect From Others)
  • Listen and be present. ...
  • Be thoughtful of others' feelings. ...
  • Acknowledge others and say thank you. ...
  • Address mistakes with kindness. ...
  • Make decisions based on what's right, not who you like. ...
  • Respect physical boundaries. ...
  • Live and let live.
Oct 18, 2019

What are the 6 major elements of a theatre performance? ›

The 6 Aristotelean elements are plot, character, thought, diction, spectacle, and song. Below are the definitions I utilize to better understand the way in which each element helps me build a play.

What are the 6 elements of theatre in order of importance? ›

  • PLOT The arrangement of events or incidents on the stage. ...
  • CHARACTER The agents of the plot. ...
  • THEME The reason the playwright wrote the play. ...
  • LANGUAGE “Vivid characters” (6) facing and overcoming. ...
  • RHYTHM The heart of the play. ...
  • SPECTACLE Everything that is seen or heard on stage.

What are the 5 theatre elements? ›

Plot, character, tension, language and spectacle are evident in all of the best plays, TV shows and films. These elements form the basis of any great drama and it is interesting to see how different artists use them to tell a story.

What are 10 safety rules in industry? ›

DON'Ts
  • Warning/caution signs are posted because of specific hazards and should not be ignored. ...
  • Do not operate any equipment without authority.
  • Do not make the safety devices in-operative.
  • Do not use the damaged/unsafe equipment and tools.
  • Do not work in hazardous area without permit.
Sep 22, 2021

What are 5 basic safety rules? ›

The most complex safety topics boil down to these simple safety rules.
  • Always wear your seatbelt when in a vehicle or heavy equipment. ...
  • Always inspect equipment and tools. ...
  • Always use fall protection when working at heights. ...
  • Stay of out the blind spots of heavy equipment. ...
  • Never put yourself in the line of fire.
Nov 22, 2019

What are the 3 basic elements of theatre? ›

Theme: the basic idea of a play; the idea, point of view, or perception. Language: in drama, the verbal expression diction or style of writing, or the speech or phrasing that suggests a type of character. Style: the shaping of dramatic material, settings, or costumes.

What are the 9 elements of dramatic theatrical performance? ›

The dramatic elements for VCE Drama are climax, conflict, contrast, mood, rhythm, sound, space and tension. Click the arrows in these interactive flashcards to recall the definitions.

What are the four basic elements of theater? ›

Four Magical Elements of Musical Theatre (Songs, Spoken Dialogue, Acting, and Dance)

What are rules why they are important? ›

Rules are the regulations that the people under a government need to follow. They guarantee the smooth run of community life. They also ensure the safety of the citizens by giving instructions that help to reduce accidents.

What is the most important thing in theatre? ›

The most important life skill you learn in theatre is communication. Many theatre performers develop the ability to speak clearly, lucidly and thoughtfully. When you act on stage you are comfortable speaking to large groups of people.

What are the 4 purposes of theatre? ›

Theatre arts have both intrinsic and instrumental value. That is, they have worth in and of themselves and also can be used to achieve a multitude of purposes such as to present issues and ideas, to teach or persuade, to entertain, to design, to plan, and to beautify.

What are some do's and don'ts for audience etiquette? ›

Read through our do's and don't of theater etiquette so you and others can enjoy the show!
  • DO arrive early! ...
  • DON'T get up and down during the performance. ...
  • DO clap loudly. ...
  • But, DON'T yell out your dancers name or wave. ...
  • DO dress up! ...
  • DON'T eat in the theater. ...
  • DON'T be on your phone. ...
  • DON'T take photos or videos.
Jul 5, 2021

What are the 5 types of etiquettes explain all of them briefly? ›

Types of Etiquette. Social Etiquette- Social etiquette is important for an individual as it teaches him how to behave in the society. Bathroom Etiquette- Bathroom etiquette refers to the set of rules which an individual needs to follow while using public restrooms or office toilets.

What are the 5 rules of a successful workplace? ›

Five Golden Rules for Keeping Employees Happy
  • Communicate company goals and objectives. Staff want to feel part of their organisation. ...
  • Reward people for their hard work and achievements. ...
  • Engage staff emotionally in the business. ...
  • Embrace change – with caution. ...
  • Treat everyone as an individual.

What are some important rules in the workplace? ›

So let's revise each rule of workplace professionalism one by one.
...
  • Be punctual and regular at work.
  • Try to stick to work deadlines.
  • Focus on doing your job well.
  • Maintain cordial relations with your colleagues.
  • Take responsibility for your actions.

What are 5 of the most important manners to use? ›

Here are the top 11 most important manners for kids and the reasons why they are important.
  • Say please. This shows consideration for others.
  • Say thank you. ...
  • Look people in the eye when you speak to them. ...
  • Apologize. ...
  • Smile and have a good attitude. ...
  • Make small talk. ...
  • Ask questions of others. ...
  • Say excuse me.
Oct 1, 2020

What are the 7 elements of theatre? ›

Terms in this set (7)
  • Plot. The events that occurred in the story.
  • Characters. All the names mentioned in the story.
  • Theme. The basic lessons a story is based off of.
  • Helps determine the mood of the story.
  • Language. Aside, soliloquy, monologue.
  • Staging. Situation what happens.
  • Spectacle. How the audience sees the story.

What are the 4 major responsibilities of a Broadway Theatre producer? ›

The producer creates, builds on and oversees the budget, sets ticket prices, chooses performance dates and times, and develops a marketing and advertising strategy for the production.

What are the golden and platinum rules? ›

The golden rule is to do unto others as you'd have them do unto you; the platinum rule is to do unto others as they'd want done unto them. In other words, reject reciprocity as an ideal, in favor of something like empathy.

What are the 3 parts of the Golden Rule? ›

The Three C's that Make the Golden Rule
  • Civility – What you say and how you say it does matter.
  • Common good – It cannot be all about “you.”
  • Curiosity – There are so many good ideas out there.
Mar 17, 2017

How many types of golden rules are there? ›

Similarly, in accounting, three golden rules form the basis of accounting.

What are the 7 ethics? ›

WHAT ARE THE 7 MAIN ETHICAL PRINCIPLES IN NURSING AND WHY THEY ARE IMPORTANT? There are seven primary ethical principles of nursing: accountability, justice, nonmaleficence, autonomy, beneficence, fidelity, and veracity.

What are the four basic rules of ethics? ›

The Fundamental Principles of Ethics. Beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice constitute the 4 principles of ethics. The first 2 can be traced back to the time of Hippocrates “to help and do no harm,” while the latter 2 evolved later.

What are the 5 points of ethics? ›

The revised Code establishes a conceptual framework for all professional accountants to ensure compliance with the five fundamental principles of ethics:
  • Integrity.
  • Objectivity.
  • Professional Competence and Due Care.
  • Confidentiality.
  • Professional Behavior.

What are the 7 theatrical aspects to consider in a film opera? ›

To sum up, the following are the major elements of theater:
  • Performers.
  • Audience.
  • Director.
  • Theater Space.
  • Design Aspects (scenery, costume, lighting, and sound)
  • Text (which includes focus, purpose, point of view,

What is an audience etiquette? ›

What is audience etiquette? As cited in the Ontario Arts Curriculum 1-8 Glossary (2009), audience etiquette "is the acceptable audience behaviour for a dance or drama performance".

What are the 6 basic elements of theatrical production? ›

The 6 Aristotelean elements are plot, character, thought, diction, spectacle, and song. Below are the definitions I utilize to better understand the way in which each element helps me build a play.

What are the 9 Elements of dramatic theatrical performance? ›

The dramatic elements for VCE Drama are climax, conflict, contrast, mood, rhythm, sound, space and tension. Click the arrows in these interactive flashcards to recall the definitions.

What are the five basic elements of theater? ›

Plot, character, tension, language and spectacle are evident in all of the best plays, TV shows and films.

What are the 5 technical elements of theater? ›

The areas of technical theatre are scenery,lighting, properties,costuming,and sound. All of these areas work together in a production to establish the place, time period, and mood of the production.

Do and don'ts for audience? ›

The Do's and Don'ts of Audience Interaction
  • DO Start with a Question. ...
  • DON'T Speak Immediately After the Question is Asked. ...
  • DO Encourage the Audience to Ask Questions throughout the Presentation. ...
  • DON'T Save all Questions Until the End. ...
  • DO Get the Audience Up and Moving. ...
  • DON'T Stand in One Place During Your Entire Presentation.
Jan 17, 2019

Why is etiquette important in theatre? ›

Theatre etiquette extends to the audience.

At their heart of it, everybody in a production really does want to do their best. Everybody wants a safe place. Everybody wants adulation from the audience. Following theatre etiquette rules means that the audience gets the respect they deserve.

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