Firstly… thank you for supporting live entertainment. You could have stayed home arguing with Netflix for 45 minutes about what to watch. Instead, you’ve chosen to spend your evening with real people, real talent and real moments that only happen once. That’s pretty awesome.
Here at The Whirlwind Theatre, we like to think of ourselves as less of a venue and more of a gathering of friends who happen to enjoy great entertainment, delicious food and the occasional uncontrollable snort-laugh.
To help everyone have an unforgettable evening (for the right reasons), here’s our light-hearted guide to theatre etiquette.
Give Your Phone the Night Off
Please switch your phone off or onto silent before the show begins. Not vibrate. Not “I’ll just keep an eye on it.” Off… or silent. If your ringtone interrupts the emotional finale, just know that somewhere a comedian has already written a joke about you.
The Cast Loves an Audience…
…but not a running commentary. Please save the conversations, punchline predictions and explanations for your partner until the interval. Our performers have spent years honing their craft, they’d love the chance to finish their sentences. If you didn’t come to the rehearsal, then you don’t get to perform.
Make Memories, Not Recordings
Please don’t photograph or film the performance. Besides respecting the artists, you’ll discover something magical happens when you stop watching life through a screen and simply enjoy being in the room. And let’s be honest… no one has ever rewatched a shaky, over-zoomed phone video with distorted sound.
Eat, Drink… Just Don’t Conduct a Picnic
We absolutely encourage enjoying our bar and cafe. In fact, we’d be mildly offended if you didn’t. Just remember that opening the world’s noisiest packet of chips during a dramatic silence may earn you a starring role you never auditioned for.
Need to Pop Out?
If you need to leave during the performance, please do so as discreetly as possible and, where you can, wait for a suitable break. Nothing says “I’ve lost the plot” quite like climbing over twelve knees during the biggest laugh of the night.
Laugh Loud. Clap Hard. Whistle if You Must.
One of the best things about live theatre is that your reactions matter. Laugh. Cheer. Applaud. Give the performers the energy they deserve. Just maybe don’t try to outshine the comedian.
If You’re Feeling a Bit Rough…
If you’re battling a cough or feeling unwell, please be considerate of your fellow audience members. A quick step outside can save hundreds of people wondering whether you’ve swallowed a vuvuzela.
Respect the Magic
Unlike television, live theatre doesn’t come with a pause button, a rewind button or another take. Every show is unique because you’re part of it. The performers can see you. The audience can hear you. And yes… everyone notices when someone opens their biltong during the quietest moment of the evening.
One Last Thing…
At The Whirlwind Theatre, we believe entertainment should be personal.
It’s why our performers often chat with the audience, why our venue is intimate, and why every show feels a little different from the last. Whether you’re here for comedy, live music, theatre, family entertainment or something delightfully unexpected, you’re not just watching the show, you help create it.
So settle in. Order another drink at the interval. Meet someone new. Support local artists. Laugh until your face hurts. And if you’ve had a wonderful evening, tell your friends. If you’ve had an extraordinary evening, tell strangers too.
Thank you for being part of The Whirlwind Theatre family.
Now sit back, relax…
…and let the whirlwind begin.