Thursday, February 27, 2020
'I can hear them three floors away!' The theatres where you don't have to behave
Stage | The Guardian: It started with the toes. Someone slipped off their shoes at a West End show, propping up their bare feet; their neighbour tweeted a photo in disgust. Joe Douglas, artistic director of Live theatre in Newcastle, popped up to say that he wasn’t bothered. “Our theatre IS your house,” he tweeted. “If your feet smell or the actors are pissed off with your feet being on the stage, we might have words. Otherwise, crack on. #makeyourselfathome”
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4 comments:
After reading this article I feel myself being very conflicted on action items to take away from the piece. On one hand I agree that as theater creators our actions and environments should not dampen potential audiences, they should feel comfortable in the space. However, I feel like I’ve also been taught from a young age that when you go to the theater you need to be respectful. There were shows that my parents took my brothers and I to that encouraged our participation as audience members, but most of the shows I’ve ever been to demand that you are a courteous audience member. It’s less for the actors on the stage but the space and the fellow patrons watching the show. After reading this article I am a little more aware that while I can enjoy theater in a way that is not necessarily distracting to others, there are others who this is more difficult for (say, my brother - who has Down Syndrome). My own privilege has meant that I haven’t really been recognizing that while the theater has felt a safe space for me, that isn’t true for everyone else.
I think the solution here is relatively clear and is already being implemented across the country. Relaxed performances are being an industry standard which allows audience members who cannot or do not wish to conform to the typical theater etiquette to still be able to enjoy theater. Those who wish to enjoy a performance in silence are still able to do that, but relaxed performances end the discrimination against those who are not neurotypical that is so inherent in theater culture. I also love that there are baby friendly performances and other variations of these relaxed performances tailored to the needs of the people who would otherwise not be able to see shows. I hope that this becomes the norm in theater and that it continues to be a useful solution. Many worry about the distractions caused to performers and some worry about the burden on front of house management, but we are professionals, and with the proper preparations I do not believe this should cause enough trouble to eradicate relaxed performances. They are important and necessary.
I think this article and this idea are really interesting and bring up a good point about theatrical accessibility. I went to the closing of Into the Woods with my family, including my autistic younger brother. During the performance he was really excited and kept throwing his arms into the air and making noises to himself, not in an attempt to be disruptive, but because he was enjoying the show. My mother and I kept having to shush him and pull his arms down, however, because he was disrupting the show for the people behind and around us, something we tend to do at any performance, or really at any scenario where everyone is expected to be quiet and respectful. I think ‘relaxed’ performances are an interesting idea, and certainly are so helpful to people with disabilities and families with young children so they can enjoy the show without being concerned about their inadvertent behavior disrupting others.
For me, a theatrical experience is a luxury. It adds a slice of happiness in my life, but at the same time, it is the first thing I would give up when I have other things to care about. Therefore, I expect theatres to be special environment, not like home. The audience completes what is called the theatrical atmosphere, which I love being a part of it. However, I would prefer not be distracted by other audience members no matter what their physical or mental conditions are. Sometimes, there are needs to limit the audience, according to what the major audience members expect for the piece. That being said, I do not think that is the point of the argument. Theatre can come in many forms. It could be luxury service, educational material, spiritual support, communication tool, life work, etc. Since theatre is such a flexible form of art, I think the most important thing is to make sure everyone to have access to the theatre they wish for. I find it amazing how people are experimenting different forms of theatre, and I believe the more choices we have the better.
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