Forum Topic

Theatreland - must they shock with foul language?

Although this topic refers to theatres in the West End I wonder what theatregoers feel about the presence of foul language and innuendo in the theatre nowadays?Recently I went with friends to see 'Rock of Ages' in the Shaftesbury Theatre - the show was rude, lewd but the music was good. Although many in the audience did appear to enjoy the show my friends and I walked out during the interval! This sort of suggestion and innuendo was not what we expected to see and it is a shame because we did enjoy the music.  We were not surprised to find an elderly chap hanging around outside the theatre waiting for members of the audience to leave halfway through so he coule ask for a spare ticket to watch the end of the show! We are definately not prudes but do feel that it was unnecessary to expect the artists to behave in this manner.This evening my friend went to see Billy Elliott at the Victoria Palace Theatre with visitors from Singapore. She had seen this production a few years ago and enjoyed it, but now it seems to have acquired much more swear words and this is spoken in front of young children, both on stage and in the audience. In fact the show starts with a four letter word brin used by the 15 year actor. The guests from Singapore were quite shocked and my friend was embarrassed.She also said it was a similar experience when they went along to see Oliver. What is happening to this country when swear words are more widely accepted and probably expected in the theatre? Some of these productions are popular with children so it is worrying and rather sad that the level of accceptance has been reduced so much that the producers think that they must downgrade standards to appeal to an audience. What do others think? I love the theatre but find this foul language unacceptable and not necessary, especially in shows aimed at children.

Jean F Fernandez ● 5228d19 Comments

Did you really like Million Dollar Quartet Jean? I thought it the most vacuous and contrived thing I had seen for ages - and with free tickets, thought them too expensive!No swearing in Simon Callow's Xmas Carol (predictably) but I was surprised to see that the new production of "Noises Off" at the Old Vic now sprinkled with "f" words which it certainly was not in earlier productions - not least the one at the Cambridge University ADC earlier this year. Presumably the author approved the change. Still funny though!

Sara Nathan ● 5216d

I saw Kenn Dodd a few years ago.Absolutely hilarious and a great night.Yes,I just think McIntyre is about as funny as a cry for help.

Keith Iddon ● 5225d

Ken Dodd is still performing (how the hell he does a three hour set while approaching 85 God only knows) and I believe that neither Michael McIntyre nor Milton Jones use bad language.

Nigel Brooks ● 5225d

There are one or two half decent comedians who aren't potty mouths imo.Harry Hill,Bill Bailey,Eddie Izzard,Lee Evans..The thing with comedians of the old school was that they were funny men who would have been funny bus conductors for example,as in funny whatever they did.Now many comedians seem to be people who have learned to 'do comedy'and as such are poor,imo.Michael McIntyre is an example of this,the most over-rated and over exposed person on tv imo.

Keith Iddon ● 5225d

Re  Do we need to be reminded in a theatre?              xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx    I would think not, a theatre is a place for entertainment and for those who think  foul language and nude bodies are entertaining, then I suggest they should relocate to a strip club and the like. Just as there are no good comedians now, just stand up loonies whose language and comments are equally distasteful as the theatre performances referred to at the outset of this thread.

Tony Price ● 5225d

If you are a child of the sixties or later, chances are that you may well be inured to swearing and getting the kit off.But does it improve the entertainment or simply and unintelligently waste time and so detract from the spectacle?There can't be many who don't know what a naked person looks like or who don't know the language which for instance can be heard in an NCO's Mess. Do we need to be reminded in a theatre?

George Knox ● 5225d

Good to know Oliver has been cleared. I couldnt imagine swear words being inserted into this production. Innuendo is the backbone of British comedy. Just look at the Carry Ons, TV comedies such as Are you Being Served and radio comedies like Round The Horne. They work on 2 levels. Adults laugh at the dirty connotation and children laugh at the silliness. If there is any 'touching up' maybe its to show why Nancy stays with Bill.Finally, my last comment is that the 1st time I went to the theatre was to see Hair which I loved and yes, the cast get their kit off at the end. I dont think anyone walk out because of it.

Roberta Stark ● 5226d

I must apologise for a misunderstanding with regard to the production of 'Oliver' - when my friend was discussing how this show has also changed for the worse since the last time she went to see it, I thought she was referring to swear words again. I asked her for more details after reading your comments. In fact my friend said she was saddened and shocked to discover that now there is now an awful lot of innuendo in 'Oliver' and the fact that the actor who plays Bill Sykes appeared to be 'touching up' the lady who plays the part of Nancy. Throughout the show this sort of thing seemed to be the norm. It was greatly changed from the last time she went to see this show. My friend said she did not think that the antics of the actors really necessary and added nothing to the production - perhaps they have been told to jazz it up to attract more people? I have not seen the production myself so I cannot comment, however, children love this sort of show so perhaps it is no longer appropriate for a younger audience. I don't know whether they give this sort of show a classification.We also certainly did not expect to see 'simulated sex' on stage in the show called 'Rock of Ages' - it seemed more like we had suddenly found ourselves in a sleezy back street nightclub! OK for some, in fact the younger people in the audience seemed to be quite enjoying the show, however quite a number of people left like us during the interval. Fortunately our tickets were free for this show, and I got the impression that quite a few tickets were given away free when we went there! Maybe that's the only way they can get enough people inside?By comparison we went along to see 'The Million Dollar Quartet' recently which was absolutely brilliant - each of the artists could really play music and sing. Highly recommended but this production is only on for a few more weeks.It is a sad reflection on todays society that standards seem to have gone down to such an extent that people don't bat an eyelid any more when confronted by foul language and inappropriate behaviour.This afternoon we witnessed a young mother screaming at her child in a shop - very colourful language with numerous swear words being repeated over and over...I wonder what this child will be like when it is older?

Jean F Fernandez ● 5226d

Im still dying to know what offensive words were used in Oliver!I agree that language and the use of certain words changes and evolves.When they filmed Gone With the Wind, they were told they could not use the famous line 'Frankly my dear I dont give a damn'' as that was considered offensive. They fought that but had to pay a fine . The use of 'bloody' in My Fair Lady was also considered risky.

Roberta Stark ● 5226d

Re  it was a mistake when I wrote it ... ;-)        xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx    I must confess I hadn't noticed it, I go around with my eyes shut, better to these days!

Tony Price ● 5226d

Thanks for repeating the spelling mistake Tony.Or,it was a mistake when I wrote it ... ;-)

Keith Iddon ● 5226d

Re  For "more liberal" read coarser where language is oncerned imo              xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx    Agreed, and I cringe when I see and hear a mother out with a young child using the f word in front of the child. I think poor little thing will grow up believing such is normal. I often wonder where the money goes that is spent on education, seems of no good effect on some.

Tony Price ● 5226d

For "more liberal" read coarser where language is oncerned imo.

Keith Iddon ● 5226d

People struggle to accept that language is constantly evolving and reflective of wider social change. Society is becoming more liberal in many ways, most of which are positive. I personally do not like to hear copious amounts of swearing and am of the old guard but in the example given - a show about Rock music I would be amazed if there was not some colourful language.

James Brown ● 5226d

Yeah, we get enough of that at home.

Susan Kelly ● 5227d

Re  What do others think?           xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx      I tend to agree with you, and sadly there is too much swearing and bad language on TV as well.  I suppose some think it is trendy and " with it ",  poor souls. A sign of ignorance as far as I am concerned. When a TV program starts to have a lot of  f  words etc, I switch channel. I don't watch much TV and when I do, I certainly don't want to listen to a load of foul language.

Tony Price ● 5227d

I have seen Oliver several times. I have never heard bad language. Can you tell me what words were used.

Roberta Stark ● 5227d

No just a sign that there are far greater things to worry about than the use of Anglo-Saxon language.I do wonder how some the prudes of today would have coped with the social mores of just a couple of hundred years ago.As evidence, Google the original name of Tooley Street (near London Bridge).I do wonder how some words have been deemed to be 'offensive'. What harm do they do? Would you even know they were offensive if someone had not told you so?I am not criticising you Jean but it does seem to me that language is there to be used in its full breadth and grandeur.

Nigel Brooks ● 5227d

From the response - or should I say lack of it, I must assume that everyone is quite happy with the status quo!Perhaps it is a sign of the times! How sad!

Jean F Fernandez ● 5227d