West End Theatre To Shine Lasers At People Who Use Mobile Phones During Performances

A theatre in London’s West End is to start shining laser pointers at people in the audience who use their mobile phones while a live performance is going on.

The idea is to shame annoying audience members into putting their phones away.

The Jermyn Street Theatre near Piccadilly Circus argues that the use of glowing mobile phone screens is a distraction both to other audience members and also to the performers.

The use of laser pointers to discourage smartphone use is reportedly a popular tactic in China with theatres in Shanghai and Beijing equipping staff with the laser-based gadgets.

Artistic director at the Jermyn Street Theatre, Jeremy Biggs, told The Times that: “A montage of mobile phones ringing at the beginning of the show is not effective. I think we should give lasers a go.

“Having somebody sit next to you with their phone on, even vaguely in your eyesight, makes you irrationally angry”.

However, he conceded that he would not used the laser tactic if it proved unpopular with other theatregoers who may be concerned about having lasers shone in their eyes.

The news comes months after Benedict Cumberbatch complained that mobile phones distracted him while on stage during his run as Hamlet at the Barbican.

However, the Barbican says that it has no plans to start using laser pointers to deter smartphone use.

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