Michael Ball urges theatre-goers to put away their phones as the stage star says that lights on the handsets shine on the faces of performers and pose a dangerous distraction
- Michael Ball said phone cameras at theatres is ‘absolutely the biggest bugbear’
- Singer claimed phone lights are a dangerous distraction to shine at performers
- He is returning in Hairspray, a role he last played before the problem was as bad
Stage star Michael Ball says audience members are putting performers in danger with their mobile phone use.
The singer is returning as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray The Musical, in a role he last played before mobiles in theatres and cinemas became such a big issue.
Mr Ball said that the distraction caused by phones risked the safety of performers as it ‘cuts you off’ and ‘stages are dangerous places’.
‘The most bloody, annoying thing is that it shines up into the face of the person who uses it’, the stage veteran said.
‘And it can be dangerous. Theatres, stages are dangerous places. You’re distracted by these things going on.’
Now ‘it is absolutely the biggest bugbear’, the 57-year-old added.
The cast of Hairspray The Musical pose for photos yesterday ahead of the opening of the Musical in April. (Left to right) Rita Simons, Paul Merton, Lizzie Bea, Michael Ball and Marisha Wallace. Paul Merton will be making his West End debut as Wilbur Turnblad
Mel Smith as ‘Wilbur Turnblad’, Michael Ball as ‘Edna Turnblad’, ‘Tracy Turnblad’ – Leanne Jones, and ‘Link Larkin’ – Ben James-Ellis Press night for ‘Hairspray’ musical, London, in 2007
‘In concerts, I’ve stopped a show and before doing shows I’ve said [to the audience], ”Can I just give you some advice? Doing that [filming a performance] while it’s happening up there, just cuts you off. The whole point of this, is it’s tonight, it’s one-off, it’s live”.
‘And the truth of the matter is nobody watches what they film. It’s always rubbish, always looks bad, always sounds bad.’
Paul Merton, who is making his musical debut in Hairspray, said: ‘You’re putting a barrier between you and what you’re meant to be experiencing and watching.’
But he quipped that producers might welcome the distraction of a mobile phone during his performance at the London Coliseum, to take the spotlight off him.
‘I think when I’m dancing they’ll welcome any kind of distraction they can get in the auditorium!
‘I wouldn’t be surprised if the producers plant people in the audience with strong searchlights’, he said.
Michael Ball and Friends Concert in Aid of the Shooting Star Children’s Hospice at the Prince of Wales Theatre Coventry Street London in 2010
Their comments come after Imelda Staunton, due to play the Queen in The Crown, took aim at cinema and theatre-goers who use mobile phones or eat food that makes a lot of noise.
Ball said it was time to bring back the Sixties-set musical, which tackles racial segregation and discrimination.
‘It’s about celebrating those people who were brave enough… to start this journey and dialogue.
‘Legally we have integration, social acceptance and diversity… but that doesn’t mean.. everybody is down with it,’ he said.
‘This reaffirms those values that we should all have’.
Performances of Hairspray The Musical begin on April 23 at the London Coliseum.