25 March 2023 , 20:42
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A school in Leicestershire has issued an apology after pupils 'ruined' a theatre performance.
The group of pupils had gone to see a West End production of An Inspector Calls at the Curve theatre on March 21.
The audience had been looking forward to the performance, but a group of pupils from Beauchamp College in Oadby interrupted the play with 'inexcusable' behaviour, LeicestershireLive reports.
Pupils threw food, were rude to other guests, and used their phones in the performance.
Several people in the audience complained to the both the school and the theatre following the performance.
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The school has apologised to the complainants and the theatre (Universal Images Group via Getty Images)One complainant even said that one pupil had sworn at his wife.
An Inspector Calls by JB Priestley is a staple of the English curriculum, and the theatre adaptation has seen a number of school groups come to watch the production at Curve this week.
However, one gropu was not interested in the performance.
A complainant who has not been identified, said: "They threw food, used their phones and talked all of the way through.
"When the audience shushed them they laughed and shushed back."
Another audience member said that the group of pupils had "completely ruined the show".
The school has since apologised to the complainants and the theatre for incident, and said that pupils' behaviour is not reflective of its ethos or culture.
Associate Principal of Beauchamp College, Alice King, said: "We’re extremely disappointed that the inexcusable behaviour of a small number of [our] students, among a larger group of 240 plus, caused disruption for theatre-goers during a recent performance.
"Members of staff intervened with students at the time and spoke to those affected on the evening.
"Subsequently, we have been in liaison with complainants and Curve Theatre to offer our sincere apologies.
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"Following conversations with the students’ families, those in question have been significantly sanctioned in line with the school behaviour policy.
"This was an isolated incident involving a small number of our students and we would like to reassure the community that this behaviour does not reflect the culture, ethos or usual high standard of student behaviour at Beauchamp College."
Curve's Chief Executive Chris Stafford said: "Curve is a theatre for everyone, and our team members work hard to ensure all audience members are able to enjoy the world-class productions on our stages.
"We apologise to anyone whose experience is impacted as a result of audience behaviour, however, It is important to stress that this kind of behaviour is in the minority and does not reflect the vast majority of the hundreds of schools that visit Curve each year."