Audience members at a matinee performance of the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of The Tempest, starring Kenneth Branagh as Prospero, complained after a baby gurgled and cooed throughout the entire first half. The mother and baby were reportedly asked not to return for the second part after some attendees sought refunds.
Ticketholder Sian Morgan told the Daily Mail: 'There was a young woman with a baby in the audience – and it mithered all the way through the first act. Thank goodness there was never any actual screaming or crying, but it was gurgling and cooing and chirping very loudly throughout. It never let up.' Morgan added that the child appeared to wake up during the opening storm scene.
Another audience member said their group had made a six-hour round trip and paid £400 to attend, which had been 'completely ruined' by the disturbance. Former home secretary David Blunkett, who is blind and relies on hearing, commented: 'I said to the person sitting next to me: “I’m very tolerant but I’m not sure the baby’s getting anything out of this.”'
The RSC's guidance allows babes-in-arms to all performances, but if a child disturbs others, an adult may need to watch from a screen outside the auditorium. The production marks Branagh's return to the RSC after 30 years, with tickets up to £112 selling out within hours last year.
