Interrupting Theatre Performances For A Cause Is A Counterproductive Waste Of Time

Greg Ehrhardt, OnStage Blog Editorial Staff

This was originally published in the OnStage Blog newsletter on October 10th, 2023. If you want to be the first to receive these exclusive commentaries and all newly published stories in your inbox, subscribe here.

Last week, we covered the story of a civil resistance group, “Just Stop Oil,” interrupting the performance of Les Misérables in the Sondheim Theatre in the West End. Five people were arrested, and the theater had to be evacuated due to the protestors locking themselves to the stage.

Just Stop Oil has recently interrupted several sporting events and performances, and other environmental groups have increased measures to stop traffic and otherwise disrupt society.

I’m somewhat sympathetic to the cause but downright hostile to these means of supporting the cause. It is dumb and counterproductive.

It’s one thing to protest outside of a performance like Les Misérables and draw attention and awareness to your cause. It’s another to cheat hundreds of paying customers of the experience they paid a lot for.

You don’t need me to tell you that most of those in attendance won’t be looking at them with sympathy or support if that’s how they treat the public around them.

“Sure, let’s give them everything they want so they can do more of this!”: said no one, ever.

When you’re protesting for a cause, you represent the cause in every facet to those who see you. If you want the cause to be seen legitimately and with gravitas, then you, the protestor, should be seen and behave with gravitas.

That means you dress appropriately, behave well, and speak intelligently with passion. That’s what good salespeople do, and that’s what protestors are: salespeople for their cause.

Car salespeople don’t burst into a bar, steal all of the liquors, and tell you they’re doing it to create awareness for the new car they want to sell you.

The general public doesn’t want to support people who act like jerks disrupting their lives; these tactics often do the reverse.

They might have raised some money from this, but (to paraphrase Hamilton) raising money is easy; changing hearts and minds is hard.

Disrupting a Les Misérables performance in what looks like a childish temper tantrum doesn’t change a single heart or mind for the cause. At best, it prompts a few more “huzzahs” from people already supporting you, which, if that’s what you were looking to accomplish, there are way easier ways to do that amongst yourselves.

The goal of any protest should be to change hearts and minds. These stunts do the opposite; they make the public bitter and resentful of the cause and want the protestors punished.

OnStage Blog fully supports passionate protests against injustices, including at Broadway theaters. The stunt at Les Misérables at the West End is anything but.

Trust us, the last thing any movement should want is to have theatre fans against you.