The Esplanade says inconsiderate behaviour is on the rise among concert and theatregoers
By Lisabel Ting, The Straits Times, 29 Nov 2014
When the lights go down in the theatre, the symphony begins. The first movement: Plasticky crinkling of a sweet wrapper, punctuated by an incessant dry cough. The not-so-melodic refrain of a child's cries fill the air, accompanied by the muffled strains of a latecomer outside the theatre arguing with an usher.
And the assault is not just aural - note the soft, white glow from cellphone screens lighting up the stalls, with the darkness of the theatre giving way to the occasional picture-taking flashbang.
No one likes a rendition of A Badly-behaved Audience, but premiere arts venue the Esplanade says that such inconsiderate behaviour has become more common in recent times. "It's been getting worse over the last 11/2 or two years," says Mr Ravi Sivalingam, head of the arts centre's hospitality and services. "Last week, during a performance by the London Symphony Orchestra, a man sitting in the second row was taking pictures incessantly throughout the first half of the concert."
When the centre's staff approached him during intermission, he was unapologetic and reluctant to delete the pictures. Mr Ravi, who has been working at the Esplanade for close to a decade, says that is the typical response from most recalcitrants.
"The majority of them will try to plead ignorance; to borrow a local phrase, they will try and 'act blur'."
While unruly audiences are a perennial problem, he says that cases of bad behaviour have been getting more frequent and extreme. "We're starting to see a trend where people arrive later than they used to," he says. In accordance with Esplanade policy, latecomers are not admitted to the venue until a suitable break in the performance.
A decade ago, controversy erupted when more than 50 latecomers were denied entry to a one- night-only concert by Grammy Award- winning vocalist Bobby McFerrin for more than an hour. While some patrons argued with the ushers, the Esplanade stood firm, letting them in only 15 minutes before the intermission.
These days, though, latecomers are becoming bolder. "We've seen large male patrons use their size to intimidate and try to bully female ushers," Mr Ravi recounts. "We've had some push ushers aside and barge into the venue. We've also had patrons use abusive language and vulgarities on the staff." When such scuffles break out, security and senior staff may step in. In some instances, the patron will be denied entry to the venue until he apologises to the usher.
Mr Ravi says: "It seems that nowadays, the approach is that I'll make a fuss, I'll make threats, I'll get abusive in the hope you will let me have my way. It's a worrying trend."
