Drunk and rowdy theatre audiences causing conflict in Essex

Theatre audiences are behaving so badly that staff may need conflict management training, a theatre manager in Essex has said.

Kai Aberdeen of the Princes Theatre in Clacton told BBC Essex that audiences are becoming increasingly rowdy.

Staff have been assualted and there have been frequent instances of people sneaking in vodka to drink during performances.

He said: "We speak to many managers [at] different theatres and it's been noticed across the board.

"We've noticed more since after the lockdown, it seems to be getting worse."

The bad behaviour of some theatre-goers was spoiling the experience for others, as well as making staff feel uncomfortable.

"It's got to the point now where we're considering getting our front-of-house staff conflict management training.

"We don't expect them to do the role of door staff, but in order to keep them safer we have a duty of care."

Aberdeen added that the theatre had already used licensed door staff for some shows.

He said: "It's understandable in a nightclub, but in a theatre you don't expect people to become so inebriated that they don't give any consideration to other people's experience."