Food and Drink in the Theatre
Posted on
| By
Harrison Fuller
(Updated on Sep 1, 2025)
BAFTA and Olivier Award-winning actress Imelda Staunton, who recently performed in Mrs Warren’s Profession at the Garrick Theatre, is calling for a ban on food and drink in theatres. Read on to find out whether the days of interval ice creams and speciality show cocktails could be a thing of the past.
The reason behind the call for the ban
Staunton cited the noise food creates as a distraction and questioned why people are unable to sit for an hour or two without feeling the compulsion to eat. Are her comments fair? Is she right?
Many people enjoy an interval ice cream, so they may well disagree. Personally, I agree with Staunton. One of the biggest annoyances in the theatre is hearing rustling papers or crunching crisps. The point of a live performance is to be transported to another space, another world and to become absorbed in a story. Any noise from the audience breaks that illusion. Theatres are designed to carry sound, so even when you think you're being quiet, you’re not.
Will theatres be inclined to ban food and drink?
I doubt it. The markup on these products provides too much valuable revenue, money that supports the running and upkeep of these often old and ageing buildings.
What is the solution?
Perhaps producers could occasionally offer the opposite of a relaxed performance, a no food or drink performance, to highlight how unnecessary the distractions can be. Failing that, common courtesy should prevail. After all, you wouldn’t sit in a meeting at work eating kettle crisps and giant buttons so why would you do that at Imelda Staunton’s place of work?
That said, with so many fantastic food and drink options in London, you’re never far from a great pre-theatre treat. There’s really no need to bring snacks inside. Check out our article on the Best Pre-Theatre Dining in London And don’t miss our guide to the best London shows to watch to accompany your pre-theatre meal!