Theatregoers to face phone ‘ban’ when Broadway’s Liberation comes to London A Broadway play, ‘Liberation,’ is set to implement a mobile phone pouch policy in London, following its successful run in New York where audiences were asked to seal their devices in special pouches. This move, initiated to protect actors during nude scenes, aims to enhance the communal experience and has been met with mixed reactions, with some actors and directors advocating for stricter phone bans and others concerned about alienating audiences.

• The Broadway play ‘Liberation’ will ask audiences to pouch their mobile devices in London, similar to its New York run.
• The policy was initially implemented to protect actors during nude scenes but became a celebrated aspect of the show.
• Producer Eva Price intends to repeat the phone pouch system in London, though logistics are still being finalized.
• The move comes amid ongoing debates about audience etiquette in UK theatres, with some actors like Rosamund Pike and Lesley Manville expressing frustration with phone use.
• Ian Rickson, former artistic director of the Royal Court, called for outright mobile phone bans in theatres.
• The ‘Liberation’ pouch system, provided by Yondr, allows access to phones during intermission and after the show, with exceptions made for emergencies.
• London theatres are generally hesitant to ban phones due to fears of appearing elitist or alienating new theatregoers.
• Some productions, like the musical ‘Titanique,’ actively encourage phone use for encores.
• Balancing phone use during curtain calls for social media sharing versus maintaining a phone-free performance is a key consideration for the industry.