Baby Disrupts Branagh's The Tempest
A mother has sparked controversy by bringing her baby to a sold-out performance of Shakespeare's The Tempest starring Sir Kenneth Branagh. The infant's cooing and gurgling disturbed audience members at the Royal Shakespeare Company's matinee in Stratford-upon-Avon.
The woman, described as a bohemian middle-class type, and her baby were asked to watch the second hour on monitors outside after numerous complaints. Sian Morgan, 53, a regular theatregoer from London, expressed her astonishment: I have attended theatre monthly for over 30 years and never witnessed such a disruption. The baby made loud gurgling and chirping sounds throughout the first act, audible to the entire compact theatre, including the cast.
During intermission, queues formed to complain, with ushers being barraged. Some patrons refused to return if the baby was readmitted. Morgan accused the mother of entitlement, stating she seemed to believe others were unreasonable for not allowing her inside. Another audience member, who paid £400 for four tickets and traveled six hours, felt the experience was ruined.
Former Home Secretary Lord Blunkett, also in attendance, remarked: I told my neighbour that I am tolerant, but the baby likely gained nothing from the play. Sir Kenneth reportedly remained unfazed, showing no sign of hearing the noise.
This incident is part of a series of breaches in theatre etiquette. Recently, Rosamund Pike confronted a texter, Cynthia Erivo halted her performance due to filming, and stars like Imelda Staunton and Andrew Scott have urged audiences to behave properly.
The Royal Shakespeare Company generally allows babies but advises that adults may need to watch from a screen if the child disturbs others. They also offer chilled performances with relaxed rules. In contrast, most West End shows enforce strict no-babes-in-arms policies.
Sir Kenneth's performance in The Tempest has received rave reviews since opening last month.
