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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2017 22:09:06 GMT
You can always tell when I'm feeling annoyed about bag searches, because I'll make sure all my sanitary products are at the top of the bag. Never occurred to me to use a sex toy for the same reason, maybe I'll get myself a cheap one! If nothing else, at least I should then be able to sneak Haribo into Cursed Child.  I had one of those yellow banana cases in my bag when I went to see Cursed Child. The bag checker had apparently never seen one before, so we had the following conversation: Bag checker: What's that?! Me: A banana case. Bag checker: A banana case?!?! What's inside it? Me: *opening it* A banana. Bag checker: !!! Ha, what is it about banana cases? People go mental over them. (I usually find people start off laughing at mine but by the end of the conversation they're asking where they can get one!) How else do you transport a banana without squishing it, though?! |
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Security
Jun 2, 2017 22:43:24 GMT
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Post by kathryn on Jun 2, 2017 22:43:24 GMT
I had one of those yellow banana cases in my bag when I went to see Cursed Child. The bag checker had apparently never seen one before, so we had the following conversation: Bag checker: What's that?! Me: A banana case. Bag checker: A banana case?!?! What's inside it? Me: *opening it* A banana. Bag checker: !!! Ha, what is it about banana cases? People go mental over them. (I usually find people start off laughing at mine but by the end of the conversation they're asking where they can get one!) How else do you transport a banana without squishing it, though?! I ruined too many handbags by inadvertently squishing a banana on the way to work. There's no getting smushed banana out of a bag (not to mention everything else you carry in a handbag that gets covered in it). Honestly, banana cases are genius. You do have to develop an eye for just the right size and shape of banana to fit into them, mind... |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2017 12:49:00 GMT
I don't think I've ever seen someone eat a banana without squishing it in the process, although I suppose that would be a useful talent for a certain type of video.
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Security
Jun 3, 2017 13:05:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2017 13:05:22 GMT
Peel it, cut it, put the bits in a handily sized piece of Tupperware. A bit more faff, but a good plan B if your bag's just not quite big enough for the big yellow case. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2017 13:31:00 GMT
Banana Cases are certainly on the list of ideas for Secret Santa presents now. Ideal for any repressed spinsters we may know.
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Jun 3, 2017 13:34:21 GMT
I often feel bad when security look in my bag at a theatre, because I've usually come from the gym, and the only thing in my bag is my sweaty gym kit. If they want to have a rummage, I usually insist on taking it out for them.
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Post by d'James on Jun 3, 2017 19:46:57 GMT
Eugh. I feel sick, all this talk about bananas.
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Security
Jun 4, 2017 15:20:46 GMT
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Post by Dawnstar on Jun 4, 2017 15:20:46 GMT
I've just been told by one of the Criterion FOH staff that I'm not allowed to stand on the stairs to check my phone, I have to stand at the top or bottom. Since I've been standing on the stairs for the last 15 months without being told to move I can only assume it's to do with the heightened security, but I'm baffled as to how it actually relates to security.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 4, 2017 15:28:10 GMT
I've just been told by one of the Criterion FOH staff that I'm not allowed to stand on the stairs to check my phone, I have to stand at the top or bottom. Since I've been standing on the stairs for the last 15 months without being told to move I can only assume it's to do with the heightened security, but I'm baffled as to how it actually relates to security. I imagine that there have been revised guidelines about evacuation procedures, and one obvious one would be to not have things (including humans) blocking exit routes? The fact that you can stand at the top or top or bottom is one of those things that gets lost in translation. "Do not allow stairways to be blocked" gets interpreted as the actual stairs rather than the top of the stairs. Humans are funny things arent they 😆 |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2017 16:31:42 GMT
The RSC bag check notices were up yesterday but at TOP they just did bag checks and didn't worry about bag sizes. Talking about squashed bananas, a can of Fanta had exploded in my bag during the plays. We'd been able to leave stuff in the auditorium between plays but when I went back in my bag was rather wet. Everything was still in place so it didn't look like anyone had stamped on it. Spent train journey back to B'ham drying out bag and RSC programmes under hand drier. Bit of late night ironing and a couple of bag wipe outs later all has been salvaged.
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Post by stefy69 on Jun 5, 2017 5:55:06 GMT
Travelling into the office via Liverpool St this morning some more police about than usual but not massive numbers ( mind you I wouldn't mind if there was ).
Stay save everyone.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2017 10:59:25 GMT
My hometown shopping centre has just been evacuated now (Queensgate, Peterborough).
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Post by CG on the loose on Jun 5, 2017 11:19:34 GMT
My hometown shopping centre has just been evacuated now (Queensgate, Peterborough). Suspicious bag now declared safe, I see  I suspect we will see a lot of this sort of activity while people are on high alert - I remember it well from when the IRA bombing campaign was at its height here. |
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Jun 5, 2017 11:26:07 GMT
My hometown shopping centre has just been evacuated now (Queensgate, Peterborough). How did I not know you're from Peterborough? Almost my hometown too, I've spent many a day in Queensgate! |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2017 11:45:27 GMT
Was amazed that at the National on Saturday one of the laptop users who inhabit the tables all day thought it was OK to leave their bags and belongings unattended while they nipped off somewhere - they were like that for the whole of one of the intervals of Angels in America. I reported the bags to an usher (everyone else was ignoring them) who got security to come and have a look.
Still doing bag searches on the way in if you have a rucksack or large handbag, but well organised and a seperate lane if you don't have a bag so you can get in and out quickly. As theatremonkey reported the other day, the Olivier foyers were closed off as there was no matinee there. This has the annoying side effect of putting the loos up there (including the ones either side of the Olivier cloakroom) out of use.
But in the context of what happened down the road that evening, an inconvenience I can cope with!
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Post by crowblack on Jun 5, 2017 12:10:49 GMT
Bag checks seem pointless - they should have metal detector things at the entrances if they're really going to take this seriously, as they supposedly have at some schools. I saw a lot of lurking police vehicles in central London on Friday and Saturday (I was on the south bank) so they're clearly geared up for a quick response but if you have nutters who aren't bothered about making their escape alive (unlike the IRA) then they could do what they're going to do anywhere.
The more obvious thing is putting in the resources for monitoring these extremists at source, including mental health provision and more awareness - or more willingness to act on it, not turn a blind eye - at universities etc. where extremists of all types have been grooming vulnerable youths for decades.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2017 12:25:50 GMT
Bag checks seem pointless - they should have metal detector things at the entrances if they're really going to take this seriously, as they supposedly have at some schools. I saw a lot of lurking police vehicles in central London on Friday and Saturday (I was on the south bank) so they're clearly geared up for a quick response but if you have nutters who aren't bothered about making their escape alive (unlike the IRA) then they could do what they're going to do anywhere. The more obvious thing is putting in the resources for monitoring these extremists at source, including mental health provision and more awareness - or more willingness to act on it, not turn a blind eye - at universities etc. where extremists of all types have been grooming vulnerable youths for decades. The thing is - it's still incredibly unlikely statistically speaking that individual places or people will be attacked. You're far more likely to be killed in a variety of other ways (bee sting, falling off a ladder, road traffic accident, etc) than through terrorism. It would be over the top to have metal detectors at the doors of the NT and similar places and I really don't want to live in that sort of country - I'd rather take my chances, frankly. And, as others have pointed out, the queues that build up due to security measures create a far more vulnerable target. |
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Post by crowblack on Jun 5, 2017 12:57:48 GMT
it's still incredibly unlikely statistically speaking that individual places or people will be attacked Yes, though I presume the school things are quick and would pick up a Manchester style nailbomb, which a bag check wouldn't. The checks I went through last week were very cursory but I suppose would have been more rigorous if I'd been from the usual terrorist demographic (when I'm out with a mixed-race bearded friend we get more security attention!) but something like the Bataclan was enabled by the easy availability of guns on the Continent - they can just shoot their way in. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2017 13:02:06 GMT
Yeah - every time something happens, I thank God for our gun laws - could be a hell of a lot worse.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2017 13:07:20 GMT
I was at a gig on Friday, they had bag checks and what I assumed were metal detector wands. Some sort of stick they were waving around people's armpits, groins and bottoms anyway
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2017 13:52:33 GMT
My hometown shopping centre has just been evacuated now (Queensgate, Peterborough). How did I not know you're from Peterborough? Almost my hometown too, I've spent many a day in Queensgate! Thankfully as said, a false alarm. Yep, I am a Peterborough boy born and raised, but lived in Bedford for 5 years, although am considering moving back to Peterborough before the next adventure. |
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Post by stefy69 on Jun 6, 2017 6:43:36 GMT
A noticeable increased police presence on my home through the City last night, which I for one am very grateful for...
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Post by n1david on Jun 6, 2017 8:02:44 GMT
At the BFI tonight there was a security guard positioned at the front of the auditorium watching the audience throughout the film. Whether that's a new standard or because the film was about Churchill and the cast was present, we'll see. In any case, he probably had a better night than those of us watching the film.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2017 8:43:49 GMT
I have seen that occasionally at London Film Festival previews and it seems to be about piracy prevention rather than security - keeping an eye out for cameras etc - presumably when the studio or distributor insists on it.
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Security
Jun 6, 2017 19:28:05 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2017 19:28:05 GMT
At the Grand Opera House in Belfast tonight and there are armed police in the foyer. Its feels quite surreal.
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