Lesley Manville Ignites Theatre Etiquette Debate Over Curtain Call Photos
Lesley Manville, the acclaimed Olivier Award-winning actress, has sparked a fiery and impassioned debate within the theatre community by criticising audience members who take photographs during curtain calls, labelling the practice as "insulting" to performers. The star, currently performing in Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the National Theatre, voiced her strong opinions during a recent Radio 4 interview, urging theatregoers to reconsider their digital habits.
'Clap or Don't Clap, But Don't Stick Your Phone in Our Face'
Manville, 70, known for her role in Phantom Thread, expressed frustration at the growing trend of audiences immediately reaching for their smartphones as the cast takes their bows. "We are all in this room, we are telling you a story, you're listening – clap or don't clap, but don't just stick your phone in our face," she stated emphatically. She believes this behaviour stems from a desire to prove attendance rather than savour the experience, questioning why people "can't let it live in their souls for five minutes".
The actress highlighted that this phenomenon is particularly prevalent on Broadway, where "virtually the whole audience will take their phones out at the end of the evening". She noted with concern that this practice is now "starting to filter in" to London's West End, where it "never used to happen", signalling a shift in audience behaviour that threatens traditional theatre etiquette.
A Divided Response from the Theatre Community
Manville's comments have ignited a widespread debate, with prominent figures from the entertainment world weighing in with contrasting perspectives. Hannah Waddingham voiced strong support, exclaiming "HEAR HEAR Lesley Manville" in response. However, others defended the act of taking curtain call photos.
Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Oti Mabuse argued that for many audience members, especially families who have saved diligently to attend, a single photograph can be profoundly meaningful. "I get her argument, but theatres nowadays is so expensive – if a family has travelled far and saved up every last bit of their money to come to the theatre to enjoy and this is their first or very last time, that one picture will make their absolute life!" she explained. Mabuse shared a personal anecdote, revealing that a photo of Beverley Knight inspired her own career, stating it was crucial to her journey to becoming a dancer on Strictly.
Loose Women star Denise Welch added that capturing "a fabulous audience reaction is something you can share with friends", while theatre performer Ali McGregor suggested such photos can aid promotion, calling Manville's complaint "extraordinary".
Contrasting Production Policies and Modern Realities
The debate underscores a lack of uniform etiquette across productions. Some shows, like the musical Six, actively encourage photography and even filming during curtain calls, with stars like Amber Davies regularly resharing audience content on Instagram. Conversely, Manville's production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses explicitly notes that photos are not permitted during the curtain call, which may confuse audiences when other shows lack such disclaimers.
This divergence highlights the evolving relationship between live performance and digital culture. As theatre ticket prices rise and social media becomes integral to cultural participation, the conflict between preserving the live moment and documenting the experience for personal or promotional purposes grows more pronounced. Manville's plea to "take the digital out of it for just a moment" and "preserve" theatre tradition clashes with modern audience expectations and economic realities, ensuring this debate will continue to resonate across stages and auditoriums.
