Theatre bosses have slapped a trigger warning on Matilda the Musical over a “loud burp” performed by a character on stage.
The burp, by character Bruce Bogtrotter, is one of around 24 trigger warnings added to the show, which is based on Roald Dahl’s children’s book Matilda.
A special document put online by producers reads: “Loud burp on stage before song, flashing lights on stage during song, actors run down centre aisle of stalls after song.”
Other warnings include disco ball lighting and the use of a confetti cannon and party poppers.
The show is being performed at Cambrigde Theatre in the West End and includes songs by Australian actor Tim Minchin.
Conservative MP Alec Shelbrooke said: “Theatre bosses need to get a grip and stop lecturing people who cough up extortionate amounts for tickets in the West End."
He added: “If anything, there should be a warning on the price of the drinks at these theatres.”
It comes as other plays have been under scrutiny for adding trigger warnings to their content.
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In one instance, an advert for the Chichester Festival Theatre’s production of the Three Little Pigs warned that it “has a passing reference to Father Pig being gobbled by the Big Bad Wolf”.
In another example, theatregoers at the Bromley Little Theatre in south-east London were recently warned that an adaptation of Charles Dickins’ Nicholas Nickleby contained “Dickensian slurs”.
A production of Murder on the Orient express currently touring the UK offered audience members a chance to read about the “specific content and themes” they would encounter in the play.
The 'trigger warning' stated: “Murder on the Orient Express contains: Themes of death, grief and guilt. Reference to, and depictions of, murder and manslaughter.”
It added: “Reference to, and depictions of weapons.”
The Globe Theatre also slapped alerts onto their production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in the past.
The “fairy tale” play, which is often considered more tame than Shakespeare’s other plays, was hit with a warning that it contains “language of violence, sexual references, misogyny and racism.”
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The burp, by character Bruce Bogtrotter, is one of around 24 trigger warnings added to the show, which is based on Roald Dahl’s children’s book Matilda.
A special document put online by producers reads: “Loud burp on stage before song, flashing lights on stage during song, actors run down centre aisle of stalls after song.”
Other warnings include disco ball lighting and the use of a confetti cannon and party poppers.
The show is being performed at Cambrigde Theatre in the West End and includes songs by Australian actor Tim Minchin.
Conservative MP Alec Shelbrooke said: “Theatre bosses need to get a grip and stop lecturing people who cough up extortionate amounts for tickets in the West End."
He added: “If anything, there should be a warning on the price of the drinks at these theatres.”
It comes as other plays have been under scrutiny for adding trigger warnings to their content.
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- Parents fume over 'trigger warning' on children's production of Three Little Pigs - 'Big Bad Woke!'
In one instance, an advert for the Chichester Festival Theatre’s production of the Three Little Pigs warned that it “has a passing reference to Father Pig being gobbled by the Big Bad Wolf”.
In another example, theatregoers at the Bromley Little Theatre in south-east London were recently warned that an adaptation of Charles Dickins’ Nicholas Nickleby contained “Dickensian slurs”.
A production of Murder on the Orient express currently touring the UK offered audience members a chance to read about the “specific content and themes” they would encounter in the play.
The 'trigger warning' stated: “Murder on the Orient Express contains: Themes of death, grief and guilt. Reference to, and depictions of, murder and manslaughter.”
It added: “Reference to, and depictions of weapons.”
The Globe Theatre also slapped alerts onto their production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in the past.
The “fairy tale” play, which is often considered more tame than Shakespeare’s other plays, was hit with a warning that it contains “language of violence, sexual references, misogyny and racism.”
Find Out More...