OPINION: Why theatre needs to be respected now more than ever

Musical theatre has been a major part of my life ever since I was a child. From performing in musicals in after-school clubs to regularly attending the theatre, I will always have a soft spot for the stage and all who celebrate this fabulous industry.

Unfortunately due to Covid-19 the industry was hit massively and suffered from it. For a long time performers could not earn a living and smaller theatre companies have had to close down.

Shorthandstories reported that in 2020 Ticket sales at UK theatres fell by 93%.

Now that this industry is slowly recovering and we are able to watch our favourite shows again, the least we can do is respect not only performers but members of the audience.

Similar to everything else in this country, the cost of theatre ticket prices has increased, with front row seats for a lot of shows costing up to £250. Seeing the theatre has become a luxury. If you have paid that much money to see a show and its performers, the last thing you want to hear is the person next to you singing along at the top of their lungs.

A positive aspect about a lot of modern musicals such as ‘Six’, the story of Henry VIII’s wives, is that the performers invite audiences to sing and dance along for the finale, which always brings the audience together. However, singing midway through a show uninvited is simply inappropriate.

These performers have trained for years to get to where they have gotten to. Understandably you could say the same about professionally trained singers when at a concert; however the difference here is that musical theatre performers are telling a narrative with their songs which audiences have to concentrate on, in order to understand the plot of the production.

Although Alison Hammond’s comments on theatre were taken slightly out of proportion in my opinion, and there is nothing I like to do more than singing Defying Gravity from Wicked alone in my room, whilst awfully tempting to hit the high notes; singing on top of professionally trained actors is an insult to their talent.

This industry could not be taken less seriously than it already is. The Government are constantly trying to belittle the arts and creative subjects at school, so theatre performers are constantly trying to fight for their legitimacy. Therefore, people thinking they can sing on top of the performers just devalues them and the industry further.

Edited by Lucy Wilcox