A London theatre has been blasted by GB News presenter Stephen Dixon after issuing a 12-page 'self-care guide' for audience members attending productions at their venue.
The Bush Theatre has begun publishing the guides for several of their shows including play Lady Dealer and one-person show Elephant.
Offering their advice to audience members who may be "triggered" by the performances, tips given to theatre-goers inside the guide includes "grounding exercises" and "breathing".
Reacting to the guides on GB News, host Stephen Dixon mocked the "utter nonsense" guidelines and suggested that those "triggered" by the theatre should "go to a soft play area and sob" instead.
Stephen Dixon has slammed the 'nonsense' guide released by the London theatre
Bush Theatre / GB News
Sharing his thoughts on the guide, Stephen fumed: "I've got a real thing about trigger warnings. Even the term trigger warning sets me off. What is wrong with people? It's the theatre."
In agreement with Stephen, Commentator Claire Pearsall said those who are "precious" to the theatre and are in need of the guidelines, the theatre "isn't the place for them".
She told GB News: "If you have booked to go and see a play, chances are you will know something about it.
"You will know the topic at the very least, even if you don't know how it is going to be portrayed. So I think this is utter, utter nonsense."
The self-care guidelines include 'breathing' and 'washing your hands'
Bush Theatre
Cohost Emily Carver noted that self-care guides are normally associated with "bubble baths and face masks", not those who are sensitive to theatre performances.
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Echoing Pearsall's thoughts on the guide, commentator Nigel Nelson agreed that the guideline is "nonsense" but argued that those attending "don't have to read the guide".
He told GB News: "They're offering a 12-page guide, but you don't have to have to read this guide. I don't think trigger warnings are nonsense.
"If you sit down and watch telly and you put Netflix on or something, and it says 'sex and bad language from the start', you're thinking, great, that's a good idea."
Pearsall interjected and claimed that those disclaimers are "not trigger warnings".
Claire Pearsall and Nigel Nelson also criticised the guidelines
GB News
The panel then attempted one of the "grounding exercises" in the guide and began tapping themselves on the shoulders.
Stephen was unconvinced, admitting: "I feel like I'm like Floella Benjamin, pretending to be a butterfly."
When asked by Emily if he now feels calmer, Stephen exclaimed: "No I don't! I feel like a worm."
Pearsall then concluded: "So it is nonsense after all, I think we can all agree on that."
