Amber Davies, known for her role in ITV's Love Island and subsequent musical theatre career, took to social media to express her frustration after an audience member allegedly filmed a significant portion of a Legally Blonde performance. The incident occurred during a Saturday night show at Dublin's Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, where Davies is currently playing the lead role of Elle Woods in the touring production. During the interval, Davies posted a video on her Instagram Stories, still in costume and with her stage microphone attached, to address the situation.
In her video, Davies stated that a woman in the front row had been filming throughout Act One, causing a distraction for the cast. She confirmed that she had asked theatre staff to remove the individual before Act Two commenced. Davies emphasised that such actions were a breach of theatre rules and had 'ruined the morale' of the performance. She also noted that this was not an isolated incident, having observed other instances of filming during the Irish leg of the tour, and reiterated her commitment to ensuring audience members adhere to theatre etiquette.
The Welsh performer, who won the third series of Love Island in 2017 and reached the Strictly Come Dancing final last year, has since built a successful career in musical theatre, with previous roles in productions such as Pretty Woman and 9 to 5. The Legally Blonde tour is scheduled to continue into next year, with Davies leading the cast. The production company, Royo, declined to comment further on Davies's social media message.
This incident highlights a growing concern among performers regarding audience behaviour in theatres. Only last month, acclaimed British actor Rosamund Pike publicly criticised an audience member for texting during a performance at Wyndham's Theatre in London's West End. Such public call-outs underscore the challenges faced by live theatre productions in maintaining an immersive and respectful environment for both performers and fellow audience members.
The debate around filming and phone use in theatres often centres on the balance between personal freedom and collective experience. While some argue for stricter enforcement of rules, others point to the difficulty of policing every audience member. Nevertheless, performers like Davies are increasingly vocal about the impact of such distractions on their ability to deliver a compelling performance and the overall enjoyment for the rest of the audience.