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Blanchett's Plea: Put Phones Away for Theatre Magic!
21 Sep
Summary
- Cate Blanchett urged audience members to refrain from filming performances.
- The actress pointed out the disruption caused by phone use to others.
- Several other prominent actors have also voiced similar concerns.
Actress Cate Blanchett recently made a direct appeal to theatregoers to cease using their mobile phones during performances. Appearing in 'Electra/Persona' at London's National Theatre, Blanchett addressed the audience during the curtain call on Friday, September 19, 2026. She emphasized the value of shared presence in live theatre and requested that attendees refrain from filming, as it detracts from the experience for others.
Her comments followed an incident where she noticed someone recording during a break between acts. While the filming did not capture the main performance, Blanchett signaled for the individual to stop and later addressed the matter publicly. This behavior has been observed previously during other showings of the play.
Blanchett's stance echoes sentiments shared by several other high-profile actors. Rosamund Pike, Cynthia Erivo, and Andrew Scott have all previously interrupted or commented on audience members' use of phones and laptops during their stage productions. The shared concern among performers underscores the impact of digital distractions on the live theatre experience, with some even finding it 'insulting'.
