London theatre plans to shine lasers at audience members using their phones

LONDON -- A London theatre is about to deploy a new weapon in the war against mobile phone use during performances: laser pens.

Staff at the Jermyn Street Theatre have become so frustrated with people staring at their devices during shows that they're set to copy a method used in China, according to The Times, and shine beams on offenders until they stop.

The idea is that, while the lasers might be intrusive for others watching the stage, they're less annoying than someone gawping at a bright screen.

Mobile phone use during plays is "so prevalent, we need to find some way of stopping it,” the theatre's artistic director Anthony Biggs said.

“A montage of mobile phones ringing at the beginning of the show is not effective. I think we should use lasers. Let’s give it a go."

"Having somebody sit next to you with their phone on, even vaguely in your eyesight, makes you irrationally angry. Maybe it’s not legally wrong, but it makes you want to kill them anyway.”

Lasers are currently shone at offenders at Shanghai Grand Theatre and the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, The Times reports.

Biggs accepted that it might not be a perfect solution. Theatre staff could shine the laser on the wrong person, or find that the people on their phones don't stop looking at them.

The Jermyn Street Theatre is particularly disrupted by phone use as it's a smaller studio theatre, Biggs told Mail Online. It "ruins the illusion," he said.

The Cumberphone Campaign, a collective of actors which aims to cut phone use in theatres, welcomed the news but said there was more that can be done to combat the practise.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

"Chasing down audience-members with lasers is a bit like playing 'Whack-A-Mole' - by the time it gets to that stage it's already too late," David Fletcher, of the Cumberphone Campaign, told Mashable.

"We support the tireless and brave work being done by ushers and front of house staff to help tackle the growing problem - but there's far more that theatres can do before a show starts, as we believe prevention is better than cure."

Last summer, Benedict Cumberbatch hit out at people using their phones while he was performing as Hamlet at the Barbican, saying he could see the red lights and that he found it "mortifying."

"There's nothing less supportive or enjoyable as an actor being on stage experiencing that and I can't give you what I want to give you, which is a live performance that you'll remember hopefully in your minds and brains, whether it's good, bad or indifferent, rather than on your phones," he said in an impassioned plea.

Mashable has reached out to the theatre for more comment on their plans.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.