A Call for Respect in the Theatre
Actor Rosamund Pike recently made headlines after addressing an audience member who was texting during her performance of Inter Alia in London’s West End. The incident occurred on Saturday night (Sunday AEST), and it sparked a conversation about theatre etiquette and the importance of being fully present during live performances.
Pike, best known for her role in Gone Girl, took a moment after the show to politely remind the audience of the shared experience that theatre offers. She emphasized how important it is for the audience to be engaged and attentive, as the performers are giving their all to tell a story.
According to reports, one audience member initially thought Pike had come on stage for a solo ovation. Instead, she used the opportunity to address the issue of distractions during the performance. “I just wanted to say, for anyone going to the theatre, it’s a huge thing that we’re trying to give you,” Pike said. “I am trying to tell you a story, and I’m feeling you, and I hope you’re feeling me too.”
She continued, “Somebody was texting in this part – you know who you are, and I’m not going to single you out.” Pike gestured to a portion of the audience, acknowledging that while the person may have had important reasons for using their phone, such as being a doctor saving someone’s life, the distraction was still felt by the cast and crew.
“I’ve got you; I feel like I’ve got to hold you all, so when I feel that and see it, it’s hard,” she added. Her remarks were met with a large round of applause from the audience, showing widespread support for her stance.
A Growing Trend of Calling Out Distractions
This is not the first time that prominent actors have spoken out against the use of devices in the theatre. Earlier this year, Inter Alia, written by award-winning Australian playwright Suzie Miller, was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play, with Pike winning the best actress award. The play follows a prominent London Crown Court judge whose feminist and legal convictions are challenged when her teenage son is accused of sexual assault.
In April, Lesley Manville, an award-winning actor, urged London theatregoers to put down their phones during the final bows of a performance of Les Liaisons Dangereuses. She criticized taking videos of the curtain call, calling it an insult to the performers on stage. “Come on, it’s theatre; let’s preserve it. Let’s take the digital out of it for just a moment,” she said.
Also in April, Wicked star Cynthia Erivo halted a performance of Dracula on the West End when she spotted an audience member appearing to film the show. According to a commenter on the forum Theatreboard, Erivo looked out into the audience and asked, “Are you filming? Is someone filming?” before stopping the show.
In 2017, Fleabag actor Andrew Scott halted his “to be or not to be” soliloquy while performing Hamlet at London’s Almeida Theatre after an audience member pulled out their laptop. He recalled the incident on the Happy Sad podcast in 2024, saying, “I was pausing and [the stage team] were like, ‘Get on with it’ and I was like, ‘There’s no way.’ I stopped for ages.”
A Continued Focus on Audience Etiquette
Inter Alia is the follow-up to Miller’s 2019 play Prima Facie, which went on to the West End in 2022. It won Olivier awards in 2023 for best new play and best actress for its star Jodie Comer. The play is now showing in a return season at the Ros Packer Theatre with its originating star Sheridan Harbridge.
As more actors speak out about the need for respect and engagement in the theatre, the message is clear: the magic of live performance relies on the connection between the audience and the performers. By putting away devices and being fully present, theatregoers can help ensure that these experiences remain meaningful and impactful for everyone involved.
