A viral video showing two audience members being removed from a musical in Manchester by security has prompted a wider discussion on theatre etiquette.
The Bodyguard is the latest musical to captivate and entertain audiences in Manchester.
Based on the beloved 1992 film of the same name starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, the stage musical adaptation that’s currently here at Manchester’s Palace Theatre until Saturday 15 April is already an award-winning smash hit international production, and is lead by former Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton and soap actor Ayden Callaghan.
The show tells the story of Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, who is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker.
Just like the film, the stage production is known for its music – with a score featuring some of Whitney Houston’s most iconic songs, including ‘One Moment in Time’, ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’, and, of course, ‘I Will Always Love You’.
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But as the musical’s massively talented cast attempt to do Houston’s hits justice each night, they ask that the audience “please refrain from singing along” while they do so.
Two “rowdy” audience members in Manchester didn’t appear to get the memo last week though.
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Watch the moment two audiences members were removed from a theatre performance of The Bodyguard.
The duo were reportedly 'singing over' the lead actor and the show ended 10 minutes early 👇🎭 pic.twitter.com/LmLlqsyIY4
After the duo were said to have been “singing over the lead during the final song” and were asked to stop by staff, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were called to reports of a “disturbance” the Palace Theatre and removed the audience members from the venue.
A video showing the moment they were removed from the crowd by security has gone viral and has been widely-shared across social media over the last few days.
The Palace Theatre said in a statement after the incident that it was “disappointed” the show had to be halted and the last 10 minutes needed to be cancelled due to “disruptive customers refusing to stay seated and spoiling the performance for others”.
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The incident has prompted a widespread discussion on theatre etiquette – with the topic debated on ITV‘s This Morning and Good Morning Britain, and on BBC News.
Should people be allowed to sing at theatres? 🎭 After one theatre in Manchester banned audiences from singing along, @VanessaOnAir has her say… pic.twitter.com/NiQCEw49N7
A performance of The Bodyguard was brought to an abrupt halt on Friday night after theatregoers started singing over the lead during the final number. Should rowdy theatregoers be banned for life when they start singing along with the stars on stage?
Hundreds have also been sharing their takes on social media.
While reaction has been fairly mixed, with some having chosen to make light of the situation, and others saying they would be “devastated” at the thought of not being able to sing along with the hugely-popular hits that usually fill musicals’ scores, others have shared their disappointment in the situation.
Some have also pointed out that The Bodyguard isn’t unique in its request to ask that audiences “refrain from singing along”, and that this has been common theatre knowledge for quite a while, with several other shows also asking the same.
Others who have either worked front of house or in theatre settings have also shared their experiences and opinions on the matter.
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Sending support to the cast, crew and creative team at @TheBodyguardUK. And a big thank you to The Palace Theatre Manchester for all their efforts! This should not be a debate, and it shouldn't have gotten to this point to have police closing the performance. #thebodyguard
— Georgia Siân Clarke 🏴 (@That_actingirl) April 7, 2023
the bodyguard isn’t even the first show to outright ask for audiences to not sing along. it’s always been a part of theatre etiquette and it’s embarrassing that productions have to directly ask for it to be respected now.
i’m honestly hoping that our audiences are going to be more respectful and appreciate of the art they have paid to see, instead of acting in a way that is so horrific. theatre etiquette has gone so downhill recently and it’s so upsetting to see. people need to learn basic manners
Famous names from the world of musical theatre and wider entertainment industry are also among those sending their support to The Bodyguard’s cast and crew.
Acress Hayley Tamaddon said on Twitter: “I truly feel for the cast of The Bodyguard. Do you know how hard it is to sing songs like that 8 shows a week?! I don’t understand how people can be so disrespectful. There are plenty of karaoke bars or “sing- a- long” shows. go there instead.”
Etiquette consultant and society commentators William Hanson added on Twitter: “Where does one begin with this? When people have paid (a lot of) money to see the lead in ‘The Bodyguard’ musical do her thing, it’s because they want to hear *her* sing ‘How Will I Know’, not Debbie from Macclesfield.
“Eyes front, phones off and keep quiet.”
I truly feel for the cast of #TheBodyguard Do you know how hard it is to sing songs like that 8 shows a week?! I don’t understand how people can be so disrespectful..there are plenty of karaoke bars or “sing- a- long” shows. go there instead! Urgh. So much I could say about this.
When people have paid (a lot of) money to see the lead in ‘The Bodyguard’ musical do her thing, it's because they want to hear *her* sing ‘How Will I Know’, not Debbie from Macclesfield.
The Bodyguard’s leads Melody Thornton and Ayden Callaghan both spoke out after the incident, thanking fans and audience members who “respect the people on stage who want to give you a beautiful show”.
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Thornton said in a video message shared to Twitter that it felt “awful” to have to cancel the last 10 minutes, and that she “fought really hard” to keep the show going, but that the situation was out of their hands.
“I thank everyone who was respectful of the performers, and am very very sorry for those who weren’t,” she added.
Prior to the incident in Manchester, Ayden Callaghan first gave his take in response to the topic being discussed on This Morning, explaining: “It’s not karaoke, we want people to enjoy themselves, and enjoy the performances they have paid to see. You don’t expect to go and have a kick about at Anfield when watching or a few rallies at Wimbledon as well as spectating.
“Respect the performers and fellow audience. Simple.”
He then followed up on this following the Manchester show, adding: “Theatre pulled the show at the end tonight because of disgusting behaviour. We wanted to carry on but it had become a major incident. I’m really sorry to what was 99.9% a brilliant audience that a few badly behaved individuals ruined it.”
Theatre pulled the show at the end tonight because of disgusting behaviour. We wanted to carry on but it had become a major incident. I’m really sorry to what was 99.9% a brilliant audience that a few badly behaved individuals ruined it. https://t.co/quemi5Jmt5
A spokesperson for the Palace Theatre confirmed that future performances of The Bodyguard would “continue as planned” in Manchester right up until it closes this Saturday.
But the theatre has asked that customers are “considerate” towards the cast, fellow audience members, and theatre team so that “everyone can enjoy the wonderful entertainment on stage”.
Featured Image – ATG Tickets
Theatre
Dear Evan Hansen at the Palace Theatre Manchester – a sensitive tale of teenage torment
Kristen MacGregor-Houlston
Dear Evan Hansen,
Today is going to be a good day because you’re running at the Palace Theatre until the 22 February and the show is fantastic.
It has been a pretty tricky 10 years since the show first debuted, with Covid, worldwide unrest, wild fires, etc and the storylines that make up the fabric of the show are more prominent than ever before.
With music and lyrics written by the talented duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, famous for creating some of the most popular modern musicals of our time (La La Land and Greatest Showman), this show reaches heights well beyond the treetops of its rivals.
The show covers some quite sensitive topics including suicide, grief and mental health, which are all treated with compassion and gentle care whilst still being realistic and honest with the audience.
We follow the story of Evan Hansen (Ryan Kopel), a socially anxious teen who is trying to navigate high school, his mental health and trying to be noticed by those around him. His mum (Alice Fearn) is a single mother, trying to do right by her son whilst doing her best to create a life for them.
Evan has a run in with Connor Murphy (Will Forgrave who stepped in for Killian Lefevre), a troubled young man battling with a number of demons and fighting with his rich yet dysfunctional family played by Helen Anker (Cynthia Murphy – mum); Richard Hurst (Larry Murphy – dad); Lara Beth-Sas (Zoe Murphy – sister and stand-in for Laren Conroy). Connor finds a letter that Evan has written to himself that mentions his sister Zoe and causes him to spiral out of control.
It is Evan’s letter that his family finds on Connor when they discover that he has unfortunately taken his own life. This sets in motion a profusion of events that catapult Evan into the spotlight as his letter is mistaken for a deep friendship between the two. His “family friend” Jared (Tom Dickerson) encourages Evan to keep up the facade which really gets out of control when the well-meaning Alana (Vivian Panka) takes the school-wide movement of grief to new heights.
Dear Evan Hansen is in Manchester until 22 February 2025
Ryan’s portrayal of Evan is nothing short of magical. His anxious ticks are natural and respectful, pulling you in with compassion for his character and his timing is impeccable. His vocals are absolutely electrifying, every song is a power house, emotive performance with barely a dry eye in the entire audience, especially after the iconic “You will be found.”
Alice Fearn deserves a special mention for her depiction and performance as Heidi Hansen. Reflecting how many parents must feel in trying to do the best for their children and feeling like they always come up short. Her vocals were fantastic throughout, but her final solo song “So Big/So Small” had everyone weeping.
Not all the vocal performances were of a high calibre, but this is likely down to either first night nerves or just the unfortunate comparison to Ryan, Alice or Vivian. Some of the dancing by one or two of the ensemble also seemed slightly robotic, although as a previous treader of the boards myself, I know first-hand that some people just aren’t natural movers (myself included) and this doesn’t detract from the absolute spectacle that is this show.
The show is only on a short run, from 18 – 22 February at Palace Theatre, Manchester, so if you miss it, I recommend chasing it to another theatre on its UK Tour, you won’t regret it.
Audience members ejected from Dolly Parton musical in Manchester due to homophobic heckling
Daisy Jackson
The Manchester run of Here You Come Again, a new Dolly Parton musical comedy, has been repeatedly disrupted by vile homophobic heckling from the audience, its star has revealed.
Actor and West End star Steven Webb shared a video addressing the issue on TikTok, saying that audience members had to be ejected from the Manchester Opera House.
The star of the lively new musical, which tells the story of a diehard Dolly Parton fan and is packed with the country star’s biggest hits, said the cast had faced an ‘insane’ amount of homophobia.
Steven said they once had to do a full show stop in Manchester and leave the stage after one audience member was ‘disgusted that there was a gay character on stage’ and began shouting mid-show, causing ‘a ruckus’ in the audience.
He said: “It’s a Dolly Parton musical, it’s gonna be a little bit gay, obviously.”
Steven also said: “Travelling the country and seeing how many people literally cannot bear to see a gay person depicted on stage, it’s wild. I feel very sorry for them.”
The Manchester Opera House stressed that it has a ‘zero tolerance’ policy to ‘bullying, harassment, or any form of abusive behaviour towards our cast, crew, or staff’.
The theatre, and its sister venue the Palace Theatre, said: “Our theatre team is committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for everyone – both on and off the stage.
“Whilst these incidents are rare, we have a zero-tolerance policy to bullying, harassment, or any form of abusive behaviour towards our cast, crew, or staff. Anyone engaging in such conduct will be removed from the venue immediately.
Actor Steven Webb stars in Here You Come Again, a Dolly Parton musical, in Manchester. Credit: TikTok, @thatsteviewebb
“Thank you to all our theatre goers who continue to act with respect and kindness towards others.”
Steven said in his video: “The amount of audience members we have had to eject from our show due to homophobia is… insane. It is insane.
“Just this week in Manchester alone, last night we had to eject someone who was shouting out slurs, and on Wednesday we had to stop the whole show.
“We had to do an entire show stop and leave the stage, because a woman was so disgusted that there was a gay character on stage, and she was shouting out and then all the audience started shouting at her and then there was a sort of massive ruckus. So she eventually was ejected and we could start again, but we were stopped for 15 or 20 minutes.
“It’s crazy. It’s happening nearly every single week and it blows my mind. This is a Dolly Parton musical, first of all.
“It’s a Dolly Parton musical, it’s gonna be a little bit gay, obviously.
“It’s really opened my eyes, because we’re in such a bubble in this industry. But travelling the country and seeing how many people literally cannot bear to see a gay person depicted on stage, it’s wild. I feel very sorry for them.”
Emily Sergeant -
10th April 2023 
