The secret lives of theatre workers: ‘People were having full sex in the stalls’
Domestic dramas, bodily fluids, drink, drugs, rudeness and worse … ushers and box office staff have seen it all. So much for the myth of the ‘genteel’ theatregoer
TL;DR
- Theatre staff report widespread audience misbehavior, including phone misuse, filming performances, and extreme rudeness.
- Incidents range from bodily fluid incidents (urine, vomit, defecation) to public sexual activity during shows.
- Audience members often display a sense of entitlement, believing their ticket purchase allows them to behave however they wish.
- Staff encounter drug use, public intoxication, and disruptive behavior, sometimes requiring medical intervention.
- Rudeness towards staff is common, from basic impoliteness to severe insults and abuse.
- The article aims to dispel the myth of the 'classy' theatregoer by highlighting the extreme actions witnessed by front-of-house staff.