Alison Hammond apologised profusely after being accused of encouraging audience members to sing in theatres, having claimed on a This Morning debate she’d be “devastated” if she was unable to join in.
She had expressed her disbelief when she heard that a Manchester theatre had banned theatre-goers from joining in with the lyrics at Bodyguard The Musical, and that staff members had been policing the aisles to make sure the rules were followed.
However, Dame Arlene claimed Alison had “no idea” how much “distress” the audience participation caused trained performers, in an emotional Twitter post published on Sunday.
“Alison thank you for your apology but I would just like to say, you have no idea what it is really like for those performers in the shows where the songs are popular hits and certain members of the audience feel entitled to join in,” she wrote.
“Performers are unsure what to do,” she continued in view of almost 99,000 followers.
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“They are not trained when audiences get out of control and [are] arguing with each other. It’s so distressing. Let’s hope this behaviour stops and normality returns.”
Arlene then followed up by reposting another tweet she’d seen, which argued: “Having performed in a couple of ‘jukebox productions’, this is certainly a conversation that needs to be had. Maybe @thismorning would like to do a piece on it “for balance”? #dontsingunlessinvited.”
“Absolutely. Things must change,” she declared in response.
She added: “The audience are a big part of our show and every show we just need to ask them to wait until the end of the show to get the opportunity to join in, as with many shows I have worked on, and pray they listen.”
Award-winning director and choreographer Jonny Bowles joined the debate in support of Arlene, exclaiming: “Absolutely… Having been resident director on The Bodyguard I’ve never seen anything like it!”
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Meanwhile, @brandonb1b1 chimed in: “No idea why this was even a debate! You pay good money to watch talent and you should respect the performers.
“If I wanted to hear c**p singing I’d gone down to a boozer in Aldershot and listen to Nikki No Teeth murder True by Spandau Ballet after 7 Vodkas. Worlds gone mad!!!”
@shed8888 was puzzled, exclaiming: “I saw The Bodyguard in London a few years ago and NOBODY sang along. I don’t understand what has changed or is this an example of what happens to shows that your outside of London? I’m seeing The Bodyguard again in Birmingham in Dec. I’m dreading it now!”
Others responded to say their own theatre experiences had resembled rowdy “hen parties” and “drunken groups”, with a minority affecting the enjoyment of the majority.
However, @Debbie_Black was unrepentant, claiming: “I don’t see anything wrong with people joining in. It’s flattering.”
Meanwhile, Dermot O’Leary, who had been present with Alison on the This Morning episode that had caused all the controversy, felt obliged to post his own version of events to clear his name.
“Could I politely urge anyone passing judgment on the clip to watch the whole interview… as I was actually arguing AGAINST people singing too loudly in theatres,” he wrote, addressing claims he’d been laughing during the discussion.
He concluded: “Nothing but love and respect for those treading the boards.”
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