Lesley Manville sparks debate over taking photos of curtain call

Lesley Manville has sparked a fierce debate in the theatre world after she blasted theatre-goers who took photos during curtain calls as ‘insulting’.

The two-time Olivier Award winner, 70, is currently on stage at the National Theatre opposite Rivals’ Aidan Turner in the latest adaptation of Les Liaisons Dangereuses. 

And she recently revealed the production has banned the audience from taking any photos during the show and after, when the cast come out to take their bows.

Speaking on BBC’s Radio 4 this month, Lesley lamented the proliferation of the practice, asking why the show attendees couldn’t ‘let it live in their souls for five minutes?’

The actress insisted that it had only recently begun to happen more on the West End, having trickled in from the US, and urged people to ‘preserve theatre’ and ‘take the digital out of it just for a moment’.

She declared: ‘Stop it! It never used to happen. I just came back from Broadway, where I did Oedipus. Virtually the whole audience will take their phones out at the end of the evening. 

‘Why can’t they let it live in their souls for five minutes? But it’s like people need to take a photo of the curtain call to prove that they’ve seen it. You don’t have that so much in the UK, but it’s starting to filter in.’

‘I feel so strongly about it, so now there’s an announcement before the beginning of the play, so people don’t just have to look at a sign and ignore it,’ she went on. ‘They’re actually hearing a voice saying, please do not take photographs.’

Lesley went on to say that rather than seeing it as expression of praise for her work that fans wanted to capture, she viewed it as an ‘insult’.

‘Come on, it’s theatre! Let’s preserve it,’ she begged. ‘Let’s take the digital out of it just for a moment. 

‘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. I find it insulting.’

While the majority of stage productions disallow phones to be out during the show, many have no rules about the curtain call, with some plays – such as Henry VIII musical Six – even encouraging theatre-goers to record the final bow.

Theatre stars also often will reshare photos and videos taken by audience members of them receiving a round of applause and adulation for their performance, including Legally Blonde’s Amber Davies.

Lesley’s comments ignited a passionate debate online, with many theatre lovers and  fellow performers branding her remarks unfair and ‘a bit snobby’.

They insisted that audiences only wanted to take a memento of experience, while also pointing out the rising price of theatre tickets made it even more important for people to document the occasion, saying ‘it should be viewed like a standing ovation.’

While others declared that rather than being disrespectful, by taking photos and videos and sharing them on social media, theatre-goers were giving the show free marketing and encouraging others to go watch it.

Among them were Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse, who wrote: ‘I get her argument but theatres nowadays is so expensive if a family has traveled 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! 

‘They get to keep that moment on their device for a lifetime. That photo could be the difference of keeping the dream alive for a little kid and having them simply forget. 

‘For an underprivileged child who didn’t know or has never even been in a theatre this is a a huge dream to film the end. I watched my first show at 25 and took pictures of Beverley Knight. If I didn’t have her as my screensaver for a year, my life would have turned out differently!’

Loose Women’s Denise Welch echoed her comments, penning: ‘Definitely an essential announcement to not take any photos during the performance. You shouldn’t need to but sadly there’s always one. 

‘But taking photos at the end of a fabulous audience reaction is something you can share with friends not just social media. I’d love to see a standing ovation being celebrated for something I’d worked really hard for.’

While Dancing on Ice star Ben Hanlin said that though he understood where Lesley was coming from, he would want fans to take pictures.

He commented: ‘I think this is a really interesting point and I totally agree that people should be present and not use phones during a show. BUT – if it was my show I would want them to take photos at the curtain call because they can post them on social media and get thousands of eyeballs on it! It’s free marketing.’

While fans were also in agreement, taking to the comments to say: ‘People have paid extortionate sums to sit in the audience- the least actors can do is allow a photo! I’m always grateful to anyone who turned up to watch me. When did we all become so high and mighty about ourselves?’;

‘I think a photo at the end is a really important moment of catharsis for an audience. It breaks the tension. It’s also a mark of respect. If they want to take a photo of the artists. It means they adored their work enough to share it with friends etc. It should be viewed like a standing ovation’; 

‘Well maybe because theatre is so unaffordable that for most ordinary people the memory is worth taking a photo of.’; ‘This sounds very pretentious and out of touch.’;

‘Honestly, the LAST thing stage actors should complain about is what the audience does AFTER the play or musical ends. It’s a bit snobby and elitist. Should people stop applauding too?’;

‘During the performance? No never. At curtain call as a memento or keepsake? What is the harm? Even if the photo ends up on social media, that i advertising / promotion for the show. She is a great actress but I think is being a bit precious in this instance.’;

‘Insulting? Gimme a break. During the show a phone or camera should get you kicked out. At the time of the curtain call, the performance is over. People clap, people yell, people stand up, people take photos. It is what it is. But taking that as an INSULT is wild.’;

‘A theatre performer here. Disagree strongly. As a self producer we need people to post about our shows on socials. It’s how we get our audience. I would never take a photo during the performance, but taking a photo of the curtain call is a respectful way to take a photo for socials. It doesn’t take away from me sitting in the moment, doesn’t bother the rest of the audience’s enjoyment. I find this an extraordinary thing to complain about.’

However, Lesley was not alone in her opinions, with several people voicing their support of her argument, including several of her fellow actresses.

Ted Lasso actress and stage star Hannah Waddingham emphatically declared: ‘HEAR, HEAR Lesley Manville.’

And Desperate Housewives’ Marcia Cross was also in full agreement that phones should remain in pockets, writing: ‘ Yes. Let the theatre be a sacred event. ❤️

Actress Amanda Abbington simply shared her support with a string of love hearts, while Supernanny star Jo Frost added several applauding emojis.

While fans also took to the comments to argue: ‘We probably need to learn to be more in the moment with all aspects of our lives. Is there really a need for everyone to photograph absolutely everything.’;

‘I think phones should be banned from any live performances. We are forgetting how to live in the moment and creeping towards a society where things only feel real if they have been shared on social media.’