Yahoo News Why Michael Ball won't whistle in the theatre
Michael Ball has revealed the reason he will never whistle in a theatre, and why he's shouted at kids for doing it before.
Ball appeared with Alfie Boe on the White Wine Question Time podcast and they discussed with Kate Thornton what each other's strengths and weaknesses were.
Currently on tour with their Together at Christmas album the pair discussed what they think works so well about their collaboration, but also what it is about each other that gets on their nerves.
Boe explained that Ball is superstitious about whistling in theatres because of the times when sailors used to help in theatres by rigging scenery.
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He said: "I understand the concept behind it. But we're not we're not sailors anymore! There's this thing where sailors used to be employed to work in theatres because they were able to rig scenery, and that sort of thing.
WATCH: Alfie Boe and Michael Ball recall how their agents tried to stop them from auditioning for Les Mis, how whistling in the theatre can send Michael into a rage and Alfie's favourite Christmas story
"They used to communicate by whistling, and that would tell the sailors to bring in a piece of scenery. So if you're in the theatre now and you whistle, it's bad luck, because you've given the cue for a piece of scenery to come in.
"So if you whistle, you could be bringing in a piece of scenery at the wrong time that could land on your head or whatever.
"So Michael has this thing. We could go into a theatre, and we're having a photo shoot, or doing a music video or whatever. And we're surrounded by complete strangers that we've not worked with before. And one young little kid will start whistling and Michael will say: 'Stop!'
"And it's like: 'What the hell Michael? Come on mate. He's 12 years old! He's just whistling a song.'"
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Ball replied: "Literally I can hear it anywhere in the theatre anywhere in the building. And it has a physical effect on me. And they have to stop."
Boe said it's worn off on him too and that even when he is not in a theatre he thinks about Ball's superstitions.
He said: "It's actually put me into a position now in my life where I can be walking around my own home, just about to whistle. And it's like: 'I wonder if I'm allowed... Yeah, I can whistle. It's fine!"
WATCH: Alfie Boe and Michael Ball on what they think is the key to their successful partnership
