A gurgling infant caused uproar at a sold-out Royal Shakespeare Company performance of The Tempest, with Sir Kenneth Branagh in the lead role, after a woman brought the baby into the auditorium during a matinee show.
The incident at the RSC's famous Stratford-upon-Avon venue saw angry theatregoers queuing to lodge complaints and seek refunds after the child disrupted the entire first hour of the production.
Staff eventually intervened at the interval, directing the mother to watch the remainder of the play on television screens in the adjacent café rather than returning to her seat.
The production, which The King attended last month, marks Sir Kenneth's return to the RSC after three decades and sold out within hours when tickets went on sale last year.
The production, which The King attended last month, marks Sir Kenneth's return to the RSC after three decades
|GETTY
Sian Morgan, a 53-year-old theatregoer from London, described the disruption as unprecedented in her three decades of regular attendance.
"I've been going to the theatre monthly for over thirty years and I've never seen anything like it," she said.
The infant, seated with its mother in the uppermost tier of the auditorium, was apparently roused by the dramatic storm sequence that opens Shakespeare's tale of magic and shipwreck.
"Thank goodness there was never any actual screaming or crying but it was gurgling and cooing and chirping very loudly throughout," Ms Morgan told the Daily Mail. "It never let up."
The incident at the RSC's famous Stratford-upon-Avon venue saw angry theatregoers queuing to lodge complaints
|GETTY
Despite the family's position in the second circle, the theatre's intimate dimensions meant the sounds carried throughout the space.
As the interval began, frustrated audience members formed lengthy queues at ticket desks, with some confronting ushers about the disturbance and insisting they would not return for the second half unless the baby was barred.
Ms Morgan observed that the mother appeared entirely unrepentant when challenged about the disruption.
"I heard her saying, 'She's only a baby and she'll probably fall asleep soon anyway,'" she recounted.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Tickets to the Sir Kenneth Branagh performance sold out within hours when tickets went on sale last year
|GETTY
"It did seem extraordinarily entitled to be honest – a weird arrogance when it was plain she had massively overstepped the mark."
A fellow audience member expressed dismay at the spoiled occasion, having spent approximately £400 on four tickets and travelled six hours for an event anticipated for months.
"No one wanted to be mean to a young mother but it was simply extraordinary that she seemed unable to read the room and to take the baby outside when it began being noisy," they told the publication.
Former Home Secretary Lord Blunkett, who relies particularly on clear audio due to his blindness, offered a wry observation as he departed.
"I said to the person sitting next to me: 'I'm very tolerant but I'm not sure the baby's getting anything out of this,'" he quipped.
The RSC issued a response to GB News
|GETTY
In response to the reports, The RSC told GB News: "It is vital that all our audiences feel welcome at our theatres.
"Our Babes in Arms Policy aims to ensure that parents and carers with young babies can enjoy our spaces.
"Alongside the auditoria, we offer alternative areas if anyone becomes unsettled during a performance.
"Babes in arms (babies from 0-18 months) can be admitted to any performance at the RSC, with the exception of preview performances, free of charge.
"We understand that excessive noise during a performance can be distracting to other audience members and the actors.
"Our policy therefore advises that if the baby is disturbing others, an adult from the party may need to watch the show from the screen outside the auditorium with the baby.
"We encourage people wishing to attend a performance with a babe in arms to attend one of our chilled performances, as they may find the environment more relaxing.
"These performances are particularly suited to people who feel more at ease knowing they can go in and out of the auditorium.
"Our Front of House staff undergo extensive training to ensure all audience members have the best experience possible."