Security

Not particularly theatres, in my experience.  I've found theatres differ enormously.  For obvious reasons I'm not going to name names, but in the last six months I've experienced:

No check at all
Asked to open bag for a quick look
Asked to open bag for staff to have a cursory fumble through contents
Asked to empty contents in sight of security staff
Told no food or drink apart from bottled water

I've also seen notices for plays I didn't attend where it was announced that no food or drink would be allowed at all.  Frankly, I don't mind this.  I'm old enough to remember a time when people could survive a theatre performance without needing to take on food or drink - and some of the consumption that goes on during the performance can be very distractive.


I have no problem with any of these provisions as long as they are applied fairly.  Galleries -especially on the continent - used to have very sexist policies where this kind of thing is concerned.  I particularly remember a gallery in Genoa where I was told I'd have to leave my small carrier bag in a locker.  My protest that I could open the bag in a split second to show it contained nothing but my guide book and brochures from other venues fell on deaf ears.  Again, fair enough if applied universally.  But it was quite clear that women with handbags (some bigger than my little plastic carrier) were routinely being allowed in without even a cursory challenge.  I don't know if it was because I was male or because my bag wasn't posh enough but I resented it and ended up leaving and putting in a complaint to the tourist office (no reply received).