Independent readers are divided over Rosamund Pike's decision to call out an audience member for texting during a performance of Inter Alia, with many debating where the line lies between theatre etiquette and personal circumstances.
A significant number of commenters supported Pike, arguing that using a phone during a live performance is disrespectful to both fellow audience members and actors. Readers said glowing screens can be distracting, particularly in a dark theatre, and stressed that performers deserve the audience's full attention during an emotionally demanding show.
Others, however, felt Pike was wrong to single out the audience member without knowing the reason for the texting. Many pointed to situations involving childcare, elderly relatives, caring responsibilities or urgent work matters, arguing that some people need to remain reachable and should not be judged for briefly checking their phones.
Several readers suggested the issue reflected a broader societal dependence on smartphones, describing people as increasingly unable to disconnect even during social or cultural events. Others argued that theatre audiences have always been imperfect, noting that noisy and disruptive behaviour was common even in Shakespeare's day.
Many ultimately concluded that while phone use can be inconsiderate when it disturbs others, context matters, and there was no consensus on whether Pike's public rebuke was justified.
Phone dependence is becoming a problem
Not sure if I approve of Rosamund Pike making an issue of it, but the way folks have become slaves to their phones is an issue. I see it everywhere: in my family, on the street, in supermarkets and on planes. It's ridiculous. As soon as you land, everyone jumps on their phones. And AI is still in its infancy. Soon great swathes of the populace will have lost the ability to think, make decisions for themselves or function without first asking Google – or whatever the alternatives are. Is it because a buzzing phone makes you feel important, of value, visible in a busy world? —onmyown
Emergencies are a reasonable exception
There may be legitimate reasons for an audience member having to respond to messages. There are also times when people are asked to switch off their mobiles so as not to cause distraction. So there are arguments on both sides. It's really up to those who run these events to say whether or not audiences are allowed to use their mobiles during a performance and make it known. In my humble opinion, the use of a mobile at such a time should be for emergencies only. —EEMC2
Not everyone can switch off
Some of us have to leave mobiles on due to caring for elderly relatives or children. It's that or not go to the theatre. Maybe Rosamund Pike can afford a live-in carer or a nanny, but not everyone can. —Flossie
Difficult to ignore family calls
I once had a babysitter who would ring to let the kids talk to me, even if they were actually fine. Very hard to ignore such calls, just in case. I had to leave an opera once for one such call – very annoying. I imagine a text about your children is also hard to ignore. —TheMartian
Texting isn't intrinsically wrong
It's worth pointing out that during Shakespeare's day, rowdy and often drunken behaviour at the theatre was the norm. The 'groundlings' (people standing) often ate, drank and talked loudly during performances. Vendors moved through the crowd selling food and ale, so it was common to have people eating and drinking throughout a play. Audiences would cheer and heckle, and comment loudly. Nothing much has changed, it seems! I think that texting during a theatre performance, provided it doesn't disturb other members of the audience, is not intrinsically wrong. It must have been humiliating for the individual to be singled out in this way. There are many worse forms of behaviour, such as loud talking, drunkenness and singing (during musicals), which are far worse yet are often not challenged. I would have demanded a refund. Actors are paid for their work and there is no obligation for anyone attending a performance to listen attentively to the actors' performance. One might object that it's not good manners to text, but I would argue that: a) we don't know if the text was urgent and b) it's arguably far more rude to identify someone in the way that Pike did than for that person to text. —Musil
A bright screen can be distracting
Just like in a movie theatre, it can be quite distracting to audience members if someone pulls out their phone and starts texting or browsing, especially if the screen brightness is set too high. I've experienced this a few times and it completely pulls you out of the movie if you have this bright light shining into the corner of your eye in a dark room. Undoubtedly, if someone is sitting in a theatre and they are, for example, getting repeated calls that buzz and simply won't go away, and they have, for example, little kids back home, they may want to take a peek to make sure there isn't some sort of emergency. I get it. But that's the rare case. Other than that, I believe it's only respectful to the audience, and also the actors who are pouring their hearts and souls out on stage, not to use your phone during the performance. —Phasmax
Theatre is for the audience
As much as I completely respect Ms Pike's sentiment about the use of mobile phones, it made me think about what theatre is for, and more importantly, who it is for. It is about storytelling to an audience; it's written for the audience. It's not written for the actors, as they are simply the conduit between the writer and the public, and as such are a tool to be used, regardless of notoriety and expertise. I wonder if theatre, at some point (just like opera), has forgotten that the most important people in the room are actually the audience, and is meant to be played out to the public, and the public (Hogarthian warts and all) tend to be a simple bunch and just want to be entertained. —jbrucehay
She was right to speak up
I don't blame her one bit – and she should've really said more! The play is as brilliant as it is intense, and it must be extremely frustrating to have her train of thought interrupted. Frankly put, I applaud her doing so and wish all stage performers would do so. There are staff who walk around with illuminated signs before the show indicating NO MOBILES. —SpendThrifty
Pike had no context
I think she was the unprofessional one here. She has no context for why this person might be texting. Yeah, maybe they are a doctor. More likely they are simply a caregiver. Perhaps a parent or someone responsible for an ageing parent's care. They could have been texting home or responding to a text from home regarding a small child. Maybe it was their first time away from a newborn. There are so many reasons someone might need to check their phone other than simply not caring about the show. I'm guessing the price of tickets was more than my average grocery bill, so I doubt someone is just zoning out of the show. She says she won't single them out, but she fully does. The person knows she's talking about them and the people around them know. This was rude and unprofessional and honestly says far more about her as a person than the one texting. —BranO
Obligations on all sides
The actors are quite right to remind us of what they find offensive or off-putting. Thank you. We are not in our own private space – and need reminding that we are engaged in a shared culture of performers and viewers, with obligations on all sides. —AS Tute
Enjoying life away from screens
I watch people every day, sitting in cafés not talking to their friends, not engaging with their dog as they walk around the park, ignoring their kids while they text or scroll, ignoring other people walking down the street while they engage in obnoxious video calls, and being rude to waiters, receptionists, hospital staff and shop workers because they are busy talking on, video calling, scrolling or texting on their devices. And I think: when are you NOT looking at your phone? I work using a laptop and, to be honest, I relish the times I can cycle, walk, run, swim, socialise with mates, interact with strangers and see the world around me instead of constantly being glued to a device. —PhylisStein
