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When is it okay to fall asleep in a theatre? | When is it okay to fall asleep in a theatre? |
(about 2 hours later) | |
By Tim Masters Entertainment and arts correspondent, BBC News | By Tim Masters Entertainment and arts correspondent, BBC News |
Ahead of a new play that actively encourages the audience to fall asleep, its cast - and other stars of the stage - reflect on those moments when applause sometimes turns to snores. | |
Imagine the scene. Hamlet has launched into his most famous soliloquy. | Imagine the scene. Hamlet has launched into his most famous soliloquy. |
"To sleep, perchance to dream..." | "To sleep, perchance to dream..." |
And there in the front row of the stalls, someone is slumped in their plush velvet seat doing exactly that. | And there in the front row of the stalls, someone is slumped in their plush velvet seat doing exactly that. |
It's just such an awkward moment that helped inspire a new show called Lullaby, by theatre company Duckie, which opens at the Barbican next week. | It's just such an awkward moment that helped inspire a new show called Lullaby, by theatre company Duckie, which opens at the Barbican next week. |
Theatre-goers bring their pyjamas and a toothbrush (and possibly a teddy bear) and watch the performance from the comfort of a luxury bed in the auditorium. | Theatre-goers bring their pyjamas and a toothbrush (and possibly a teddy bear) and watch the performance from the comfort of a luxury bed in the auditorium. |
After an interval in which you clean your teeth and go to the loo, it's back to bed to be lulled by music and a parade of dream-like animals. | After an interval in which you clean your teeth and go to the loo, it's back to bed to be lulled by music and a parade of dream-like animals. |
The show ends when the last audience member falls asleep - with breakfast served next morning. | The show ends when the last audience member falls asleep - with breakfast served next morning. |
Lullaby is devised by four performers - Harriet & H Plewis, Tim Spooner and Matthew Robins - and directed by Mark Whitelaw. | Lullaby is devised by four performers - Harriet & H Plewis, Tim Spooner and Matthew Robins - and directed by Mark Whitelaw. |
Triple beds | Triple beds |
"We conceived it as Dada-esque, Dali-esque dream-world for adults," says Harriet Plewis, when we meet during rehearsals in east London. | "We conceived it as Dada-esque, Dali-esque dream-world for adults," says Harriet Plewis, when we meet during rehearsals in east London. |
Each performance takes place in front of 50 beds - singles, doubles and triples. But the cast is keen to stress that there are no jokes played on the sleeping audience. | Each performance takes place in front of 50 beds - singles, doubles and triples. But the cast is keen to stress that there are no jokes played on the sleeping audience. |
"It's about trying to give people a good night's sleep. It really is a tender, loving show - because we do see it as quite a responsibility," says Harriet. | "It's about trying to give people a good night's sleep. It really is a tender, loving show - because we do see it as quite a responsibility," says Harriet. |
The show's code of conduct includes a strict "no hanky-panky" rule. | The show's code of conduct includes a strict "no hanky-panky" rule. |
"We don't want to deny excitement," says Harriet's sister, and co-performer, H. "It's not about controlling people. | "We don't want to deny excitement," says Harriet's sister, and co-performer, H. "It's not about controlling people. |
"Even though we're saying no hanky-panky, there's going to be a natural excitement about sleeping in a theatre with 50 other people." | "Even though we're saying no hanky-panky, there's going to be a natural excitement about sleeping in a theatre with 50 other people." |
Lullaby, she says, is a natural response to shows that set out to shock. "We've experienced an overload of irony in theatre and culture in general over the last few years and this is a reaction to that." | Lullaby, she says, is a natural response to shows that set out to shock. "We've experienced an overload of irony in theatre and culture in general over the last few years and this is a reaction to that." |
So how widespread is the problem of punters nodding off in the theatre? | So how widespread is the problem of punters nodding off in the theatre? |
"Even in a wonderful performance of a great play I'd say there will be five people asleep at any one time," says Dominic Cooke, artistic director of the Royal Court. | "Even in a wonderful performance of a great play I'd say there will be five people asleep at any one time," says Dominic Cooke, artistic director of the Royal Court. |
"One thing I always do is have the auditorium as cold as humanly possible to stop that from happening." | "One thing I always do is have the auditorium as cold as humanly possible to stop that from happening." |
Geraldine James, currently in Chekhov's Seagull at the Arcola, says: "It is so soul destroying for an actor." | Geraldine James, currently in Chekhov's Seagull at the Arcola, says: "It is so soul destroying for an actor." |
She blames in part the "corporate nature" of the West End with business visitors who are "brought in by the busload". | She blames in part the "corporate nature" of the West End with business visitors who are "brought in by the busload". |
Theatre design can be responsible too: "That proscenium arch and that orchestra pit and those hot plush velvet seats and too may gin-and-tonics is deadly." | Theatre design can be responsible too: "That proscenium arch and that orchestra pit and those hot plush velvet seats and too may gin-and-tonics is deadly." |
Doctor Who actor Arthur Darvill, in Dr Faustus at Shakespeare's Globe, recalls working on a two-hander at the Edinburgh Fringe when he was fresh out of drama school. | Doctor Who actor Arthur Darvill, in Dr Faustus at Shakespeare's Globe, recalls working on a two-hander at the Edinburgh Fringe when he was fresh out of drama school. |
"My co-star had a walking stick throughout the whole show - so when a gentleman fell asleep in the front row he got prodded with it" | "My co-star had a walking stick throughout the whole show - so when a gentleman fell asleep in the front row he got prodded with it" |
Lullaby performer H admits she's guilty of falling asleep in the theatre too. "It's the darkness, the warmth and the quiet that induces it - more than what's on stage." | Lullaby performer H admits she's guilty of falling asleep in the theatre too. "It's the darkness, the warmth and the quiet that induces it - more than what's on stage." |
So will Lullaby be a show without any applause at the end? | So will Lullaby be a show without any applause at the end? |
"A snoring ovation," says Harriet. "That's what we'd like." | "A snoring ovation," says Harriet. "That's what we'd like." |
Lullaby is at the The Pit, Barbican from 24 June - 24 July. | Lullaby is at the The Pit, Barbican from 24 June - 24 July. |