Curtain Call for Courtesy: Burlington Theatre Pros on Audience Etiquette

By: Emily R. Zarevich, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Burlington Local-News.ca

 

“The stage is not merely the meeting place of all the arts, but is also the return of art to life.”

 — Oscar Wilde

 

People crave entertainment. It’s wired in humanity to seek out distractions from the stressors of everyday life, and of course, everyone deserves to have fun. But what a fraction of theatregoers sometimes don’t realize is that certain behaviours in entertainment venues can be a stressor for those who toil on stage to make art for the masses. Anyone is capable of being somewhat of a disrupter in a theatre when they fail to observe the proper courtesies. 

 

The world is currently operating in a post-COVID timeline, and it’s understandable that perhaps some common social graces got lost along the way in a four-year period of isolation and hyper-reliance on technology. But as everyone, including the people of Burlington, navigates the local entertainment sphere in 2026, it’s vital to remember that there is a social contract at play when one is an audience member at a live theatre. Actors, singers, musicians, and directors alike are always happy to entertain their audiences. In return, they request something simple and at no extra charge to the ticket price: good etiquette.

 

Several prominent Burlington-based entertainment figures have come forward to offer guidance on how to conduct a performance as a theatre patron. Their sound advice comes from years of experience working in the business. Answers have been condensed and lightly edited for clarity and flow. 

 

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Rick Mackenzie is the co-chairman of Drury Lane Theatre, and Carol Mackenzie is the artistic director of Drury Lane Theatre. At the moment, the theatre is preparing to put on their 45th Annual Music Hall in February 2026. 

 

The Mackenzies: Theatre etiquette isn’t about rules that must be observed. It is about making the theatre-going experience an enjoyable and exciting one for everyone there. There is a shared sense of community at a theatre where a few common courtesy practices make way for magic to happen. Common courtesy isn’t always commonly known or understood by some theatregoers, however, and that is why you often hear an announcement just before the show begins, outlining the most important requests.

 

Typically, the appropriate use of cell phones is announced. Turn your sound off, no texting, and no selfies or videos during the performance. Not only is it distracting to other audience members and the performers, but it also violates royalty and licensing contracts. You will also hear a request for audience members to open up their candies or treats before the show so that there are no distracting crackling sounds taking place during the performance.

 

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Gregory Flis is an actor and singer who has appeared in community theatre plays for thirty years, as well as being a theatre critic. He participated in two major 2025 Drury Lane Theatre productions: A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder and the 44th Annual Music Hall. 

 

Flis: First and foremost, arrive early! Give yourself enough time to park the car, make your way to the theatre, and be seated before the show begins. You may even need to park some distance away from the theatre, so giving yourself enough time is doubly important. This is very different from a sports event where your late entrance doesn’t matter. 

 

At musicals, applause or even hooting is expected at the end of songs. When the performance is done, do stay for the curtain call and show your appreciation for the actors. If you are seeing someone specific perform with whom you are close, wait for them after the show to tell them how much you enjoyed their performance. Depending on how close you are, a gift of flowers or candy would be appropriate.

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Maureen “Moe” Dwyer is a retired English and Drama teacher with the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board and a local actor and director with over forty years of experience in the GTA. She is on the curriculum writing team for Hamilton’s Theatre Aquarius and is also currently directing Mary’s Wedding at Theatre Burlington. 

 

Dwyer: Turn your cell phone off before or during a performance, especially after intermission. Open any candy or food item that could possibly make noise before the show begins. Eating crunchy food during a show is highly discouraged. Don’t translate or comment on what is happening on stage to the person next to you. Most theatres provide hearing devices for those who need them. 

 

Please don’t sneak your Big Mac into the theatre because you were running late and need a quick fix. The sound of the wrapper is highly distracting for those on stage and around you. And use the toilet before the show begins or during intermission. Getting up to go out during a show and checking your phone on the way out is very distracting for actors and other audience members as well.  

 

Michael MacLennan is a theatre director and choreographer. In 2025, he was the director and choreographer for Drury Lane Theatre’s A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder as well as Finales. He was a member of the Stratford Festival acting company for two seasons and has performed for Mirvish Productions, Drayton Entertainment, Stage West, and theatres across Canada. He recently directed a production of The Prom at the John Elliott Theatre in Georgetown. 

 

 MacLennan: Cell phones continue to be a source of consternation, with people unaware that they are illuminating their entire faces while they text during a performance. Once in a while, I still find myself leaning towards someone, asking them to please turn off their cell phone or take their text conversation into the lobby. It is more prevalent in movie theatres, but it still occurs during live performances. 

 

 It is never a bad idea to remind theatregoers of proper etiquette during a performance. Although we make attempts to do our due diligence with pre-show announcements and inserts in programs, there are those patrons who just seem to forget, or simply ignore our pleas.

 

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Valerie Van Landschoot has been working and volunteering in theatre for over thirty years. After serving on the board of the Hamilton Festival Theatre company (Hamilton Fringe) for eleven years, she joined the board of Dundas Little Theatre. She most recently produced Death of a Salesman at the Dundas Little Theatre. 

 

Van Landschoot: Audience etiquette typically involves arriving on time, placing phones on silent mode, remaining seated, and refraining from talking during the performance. It also involves avoiding loud snacking or unwrapping noisy candies, respecting other audience members’ space, and being respectful to ushers and box office and bar staff. If you must leave during the performance, be aware that you may not be let back in, or you will have to wait until an appropriate time to return to your seat. 

 

 The theatre encourages appropriate reactions such as laughter and applause, but it does not want any commentary during the show. Audience members should also refrain from taking photos or videos during the performance. Patrons are welcome to take a picture of the set when the show is over. We also ask that people take their garbage with them and dispose of it in the lobby.

 

Everyone at the theatre has worked very hard to put on a performance, and a little respect goes a long way in making it an enjoyable experience for everyone.

 

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There you have it — get in early, show respect to your fellow audience members and the performers by saving the crunchy snacks for after the show and putting those cell phones away.