Andrew Scott Interrupts Hamlet Performance Due to Audience Member's Laptop Use

Incident highlights ongoing concerns about declining theatre etiquette, as industry grapples with disruptions ranging from mobile phone use to outbreaks of violence.

• 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.

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