Stephen Mangan has disclosed that he kicked an audience member's feet off the stage during a performance, highlighting growing concerns over poor behaviour in theatres. The British actor, currently preparing for his return to the West End in Florian Zeller's comedy The Truth, recounted the incident in an interview with The Times.
Mangan's Broadway encounter
Discussing a 2009 Broadway production of The Norman Conquests, Mangan said a front-row audience member placed both feet on the stage. 'You wouldn't walk into your accountant's office and stick your feet on his desk,' the Fortune Hotel star remarked. 'Anyway, I kicked the feet off the stage. That was the end of that.'
Mangan's comments come amid a wider debate about audience conduct. He noted that actors can see and hear distractions like phone use or whispering. 'If they pull out a phone and start texting, we're right there. We can see it. If they lean over and whisper something to their friend, we can hear it,' he said.
Rosamund Pike's recent confrontation
Earlier this year, actress Rosamund Pike called out an audience member for texting during her play Inter Alia. She claimed the texter had 'broken the bond' between cast and audience, making it difficult for actors to continue. An audience member told The Times: 'She suggested that someone texting in the climax of this devastatingly emotional play broke this bond. She seemed genuinely upset.' The source added that everyone was 'a bit stunned' and felt as though 'we had all let her down'.
Royal Shakespeare Company incident
Earlier this month, the Royal Shakespeare Company asked a woman to leave a performance after her baby repeatedly interrupted the production. Theatregoers complained about hearing 'gurgling and cooing and chirping very loudly throughout'.
The Truth coming to West End
Mangan's upcoming play The Truth, written by Florian Zeller, is a comedy about two unfaithful couples. He stars opposite Janie Dee, Sarah Hadland and Ardal O'Hanlon. The production is set to open in London's West End later this year.
