Security

[Deleted]

At Royal Court - they have bag searches whenever u enter/re enter building. I have used pants in my bag so they were especially keen to look in mine for the third time

[Deleted]

On Wednesday night Kinky Boots had bag searches with an extra table out for bigger bags (I had an overnight bag with me) but had no restrictions on taking them in.

On Wednesday the NT and Southbank Centrr were open as usual.

Back home the WMC had nothing additional inside on Tuesday but I imagine that may have altered by now with the coming Champions League final in Cardiff security was being upped next week anyway -outside looks a bit scary already with huge barriers and barricades and we've already been told we need photo ID to even get near the building once it all starts.
(The WMC is both an "iconic" building and next to the Aseblu parliament building too, so security there is not so much theatre related as location related)

[BurlyBeaR]

Nothing extra at The Palace Manchester tonight. Swathes of empty seats in the stalls though. I think people are staying home.

[Deleted]

May 25, 2017 22:06:27 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

Nothing extra at The Palace Manchester tonight. Swathes of empty seats in the stalls though. I think people are staying home.

Or it could be people didn't want wanna see Modern Millie

[BurlyBeaR]

May 25, 2017 22:12:46 GMT mrslovettsmeatpie said:

May 25, 2017 22:06:27 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

Nothing extra at The Palace Manchester tonight. Swathes of empty seats in the stalls though. I think people are staying home.

Or it could be people didn't want wanna see Modern Millie

Couldnt blame them either, after seeing it! But I looked at the availability the other day and while the edges of the stalls were unsold, central was looking ok. Tomorrow night looks the same. 

[n1david]

NT changes - essentially only one entrance and expect bag searches: www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/blog/enhanced-security-national-theatre

Got an email from BFI Southbank saying something similar - only two entrances open and the others now fire exits only.

[Deleted]

Alexandra Theatre in B'ham has a notice up saying no rucksacks can be taken in and have to be left in cloak room. But larger handbags, shoulder bags, carrier bags are all fine. I've seen extra security for jukebox musicals and shows which may attract a younger adult demographic - Bodyguard, Dirty Dancing etc. Rocky Horror Show has had extra bag checks for years due to water, rice etc being taken in.

I'd be interested to see if bag checks are the same for school parties at shows etc.

Ironically theatre venues let food, water, soft drinks in but don't allow filming. Academy type venues don't allow drinks but don't give a toss about filming shows.

[daniel]

May 25, 2017 23:03:01 GMT @hitster said:

Alexandra Theatre in B'ham has a notice up saying no rucksacks can be taken in and have to be left in cloak room. But larger handbags, shoulder bags, carrier bags are all fine. I've seen extra security for jukebox musicals and shows which may attract a younger adult demographic - Bodyguard, Dirty Dancing etc. Rocky Horror Show has had extra bag checks for years due to water, rice etc being taken in.

I'd be interested to see if bag checks are the same for school parties at shows etc.

Ironically theatre venues let food, water, soft drinks in but don't allow filming. Academy type venues don't allow drinks but don't give a toss about filming shows.

Generally the prohibitions on what's allowed/not allowed come down to the venue owner/operator for food/drink, and the producer/promoter for the filming/photos, hence the difference between theatre and concerts.


Traditionally when you saw extra security at the theatre, it would be because the audiences are a bloody nightmare - hence Dirty Dancing/Bodyguard/Rocky!

[stefy69]

At The Goat yesterday for the matinee despite signs saying extra security and bag checks would be in place no one asked to look inside my bag.

[Kim]

Regent Theatre in Stoke has signs up saying there will be full bag checks, and they did seem to be having a good search on biggish bags

[Deleted]

So at work last night, the first thing I asked is what are we doing in terms of searches etc, and apparently nothing was planned. Now bear in mind I work in a theatre that usually is a just show your ticket and walk in situation. So I said nope, get your badges on (some of our staff have security badges), you can do bag checks. We can't just have 700 people coming to a show, under these situations in the country, and go with the assumption that nothing bad is gonna happen. I cleared it myself with the manager and sure enough it got done and is gonna be the same tonight, tomorrow and until futher notice.

[CG on the loose]

Only venue I've been to this week was the Dominion where bag checks have been in place for a while but were perhaps being done rather more thoroughly last night.

Thought occurs however - people often leave the building at interval (to smoke usually) and I wonder whether there is any scrutiny on re-entry... I know ticket checks are often in place, but bags?

[Deleted]

As expected security in Cardiff Bay/WMC is stepped up today- public areas still open as usual but more security staff and ID checks for people who work in the building/adjacent buildings. Saw two armed police on my way in as well, including a 'Police Medic' which actually freaked me out a bit thinking about situations where that is needed. Had emails from the University I'm teaching in next Friday is already saying nobody allowed in building without ID due to the football related security up here. Once the football hoards depart though I expect my quieter provincial life will return to a bit more normal.

[horton]

Back in 1990 at the time of the first Gulf War, several shows closed citing security concerns affecting box office. Children of Eden was prime example.

Funny/ sad how much times have changed and how step by step, imperceptibly, our society and culture have changed and we just trundle on, tolerating the gradual diminishing of freedom (freedom to travel without fear, freedom to be trusted and to trust others, freedom to go about our ordinary lives).

At some point maybe we ought to reflect on why our way of life is deteriorating and do something about it.

Oh and maybe reflect on that at the election.

[BurlyBeaR]

Manchester is going to be a challenge to police this weekend. We have a marathon, an athletics track event taking over Deansgate and the Courteeners at the Emirates Stadium. All police leave cancelled. My pal is a police officer and had to miss Milllie last night. Every cloud, etc

[charliec]

National have erected a search area inside the foyer past the box office. little queue to go through the search area and bags were searched fairly thoroughly. They were making announcements about the increased security every 10 minutes or so whilst I was waiting to go into part 2 of Angels.

[Deleted]

May 26, 2017 15:26:58 GMT charliec said:

National have erected a search area inside the foyer past the box office. little queue to go through the search area and bags were searched fairly thoroughly. They were making announcements about the increased security every 10 minutes or so whilst I was waiting to go into part 2 of Angels.

With any luck that'll deter a few of the people who camp there for eight hours with their laptops.

[bellboard27]

I came to NT about 6pm. No queue but it was indeed quiet inside compared to normal. About 20 mins before AIA starts there is quite a long line outside. Still not sure if we will start on time. I asked FOH and apparently it was on time yesterday but Fridays is bad for people turning up later.

[bellboard27]

Just to note that in the end AIA started only 5 mins late.

[Dawnstar]

My local theatre have announced they're going to start doing bag searches. I find it had to imagine a 600-seat theatre in Cambridge with a usually largely pensionable-age audience is going to be a prime terrorist target!

[peggs]

Were bag checking at Harold Pinter on wednesday though have to admit I didn't connect it to raised security concerns as some theatres already did check. I'd wandered into the National earlier in the day and the announcements regarding security and checking in bags did some more frequent and i think had been re-phrased to make the message more serious. No checks at that time and seemed about normal re business. Heading there tomorrow so will allow extra time.

[Deleted]

Old Vic being evacuated just now when I walked past at 2:50- hopefully just a false alarm

[theatremadness]

As Xanderl says, quite a few tweets from audience members who are saying they've been evacuated mid-performance at the Old Vic with police around the Waterloo area and yes, hopefully just someone being rightfully over-cautious!

Edit: Tweets saying theatre has been cordoned off.

[BurlyBeaR]

May 26, 2017 19:25:49 GMT Dawnstar said:

My local theatre have announced they're going to start doing bag searches. I find it had to imagine a 600-seat theatre in Cambridge with a usually largely pensionable-age audience is going to be a prime terrorist target!

Famous last words. One might have said the same about children leaving a Disney Channel teen-stars pop concert? Better to be safe than sorry. 

[Deleted]

Someone on twitter says a police officer told them it's "concerns about something in the theatre" so hopefully a false alarm. Theatre cordoned off, rest of area accessible