West End actress Beverley Knight has told ‘rat-a***d’ theatre goers to stay at home after a second performance of a musical she is starring in was disrupted.
The soul singer-turned-stage-actress criticised members of the audience watching Thursday evening’s performance of The Drifter’s Girl at London’s Garrick Theatre.
Twitter user, Judith Swain took to Twitter and complained about the show-stopping interruption in which two were escorted off stage. If your intention is to come to the theatre, get rat-a***d, make a scene, disrupt the show thus causing a show-stop?
Beverley Knight, a West End actress and soul-singer, criticized members of the public who were watching The Drifter’s Girl at London’s Garrick Theatre on Thursday night. Pictured: Ms Knight at the curtain call during the press night performance of ‘The Drifters Girl’ at the Garrick Theatre on November 25, 2021 in London
“Stay at home,” I advise. Your foolishness is what people pay for. Done.’
She said that she was ‘fuming’ and this incident marked the second consecutive night when a member from the audience disrupted the show.
Replying to Knight’s post, a person saying they were in the audience wrote: ‘people were drinking throughout, so by the second half they were joining in with the singing & drowning the cast out.
“There was much lurching during the interval. Perhaps limit the amount of drinks sold & not allow people to bring bottles in from outside?’
A second person wrote: “I went to see the show, and was not too far from that person who disrupted the program which she should feel ashamed of.”
“I did not think that the audience drowned-out the cast. Some people sang along. I just enjoyed the amazing show.
Beverley Knight posted on Twitter her complaint about the interruption. If your intention is to come to the theatre, get rat-a***d, make a scene, disrupt the show thus causing a show-stop? My advice to you is: Stay at home. Your foolishness is what people pay for. Done.’
According to a spokesperson, two audience members were escorted from the Garrick Theatre by Garrick staff because of their loud and abusive behavior during the performance.
‘The cast left the stage whilst this happened, before resuming and completing the performance,’ the spokesperson said.
“This incident is isolated, but both The Drifters Girl (and Nimax Theatres) would like patrons to be respectful and responsible when they attend a performance.
Beverley Knight (pictured), claimed she was ‘fuming,’ with this incident marking the second consecutive night that an audience member had interrupted the show.
Responding to the suggestion that alcohol sales be limited at performances, Ms Knight stated that it was difficult because theatres depend on bar revenues.
She added that “Most people who come along with us aren’t utter idiots.”
Tickets to see Ms Knight and her fellow performers in The Drifters Girl are selling for upwards of £20. The musical centres around the ‘formidable businesswoman’ Faye Treadwell, played by Knight, and her management of R&B soul group The Drifters.
Melissa Phillips, an actress who is best-known for Gangs of London replied to Ms Knight’s post, saying that the “same situation” occurred at another West End show she saw recently.
Six security guards had to remove the person. Temporarily the show was stopped. It was very distressing. It was distressing!” she posted on Twitter.
It is common for theatregoers to have issues with one another. A performance can be hampered by loud chatting, eating or the use of mobile phone.
Particularly drunk audience members can present a danger to theatre-goers and often need to be taken out of the theater.
However, not all people agree with Ms Knight. Actor Mark Rylance stated that disruptive audiences are the result of actors not telling the story clearly enough in 2018.
They are sure to be there [audiences] should be allowed to do what they want – if they’re making noise then you’re not holding them. It’s not clear enough. However, to criticize them is wrong,” the actor stated in a speech.