Our phones were designed to connect us to the rest of the world, but unfortunately it has gotten to the point where we are so connected that sometimes we forget we’re actually having a meal with a real-life person. Sometimes that addiction gets so far where we disregard our surroundings, like rush onto a Broadway set just so we can charge our phone.
Hoping to put an end to these mobile shenanigans and distractions, the Jermyn Street Theatre in London will be using lasers to put an end to audience members who are caught using their phones during performances. This is apparently inspired by practices over in China, where several theaters have successfully deterred audiences with this technique.
According to the theatre’s artistic director Anthony Biggs, “[Mobile phone use is] is so prevalent, we need to find some way of stopping it. A montage of mobile phones ringing at the beginning of the show is not effective. I think we should use lasers. Let’s give it a go.” The idea is that with audience members being publicly pointed out that they are on their phones, hopefully the shame/embarrassment will deter others from doing the same thing.
Actor Benedict Cumberbatch has publicly decried the use of mobile phones during performances, urging those who attend his performances to not film him as he calls the experience “mortifying”.
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