The Royal Court’s decision to ban theatregoers from bringing in single-use plastic bottles is utterly ludicrous suggests Matthew Steeples
The Royal Court Theatre on Sloane Square is a venerable institution. It is a place where Alec Guinness and Laurence Olivier have performed and it has hosted productions directed by Sam Mendes and Tony Richardson.
Now, however, this theatre – which decided to display a ‘Stop Trump’ banner on its frontage during the 2018 visit by the 45th President of the United States of America – has “gone too far in banning theatregoers from bringing in single-use water bottles” according to Ann Treneman of The Times.
Of the move, speaking to the Evening Standard, the theatre’s artistic director, Vicky Featherstone, stated: “[Single-use water bottles will] be banned and I think it’s really important that it is banned… [It’s not about] nannying people. It is really important that people have to think about how they come in to the space and what it means.”
Whilst all this “going net zero carbon” is all very well, the theatre’s decision to force people to “surrender” their plastic bottles “at the stalls door smacks of airport security, not a night out,” continues Treneman. I’d go further and add that this policy is utterly ludicrous. The Royal Court Theatre should keep it’s beak out of what people consume and stick to what it does best – producing the very best plays.
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