Overview

• Andrew Scott, the Irish actor known for his roles in 'Fleabag' and 'Sherlock', revealed that he halted his performance of Hamlet's 'To be or not to be' soliloquy during a 2017 run at London's Almeida Theatre when an audience member opened his laptop to answer emails.
• The actor refused to continue his performance until the laptop was put away, despite being urged by the stage team to carry on.
• The incident is one of many reports of poor theatre etiquette in recent years, with other disruptions including mobile phones ringing, audience members filming performances, and even outbreaks of violence.
• In 2023, there were numerous complaints about audience behaviour in the West End, particularly during musicals, leading to concerns about the decline in theatre etiquette.
• The Ambassador Theatre Group, the UK's largest theatre operator, has taken steps to temper advertising campaigns that promote drinking and rowdy behaviour among theatregoers.