'Someone was texting, you know who you are': Moment Rosamund Pike berates audience member for using their phone during finale of West End play

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This is the moment Rosamund Pike publicly shamed an audience member for texting during the finale of her ‘devastatingly emotional’ West End play.

The actress and producer, who plays a Crown Court judge in Inter Alia at the Wyndham’s Theatre, returned to the stage after the curtain had fallen.

But instead of soaking in the applause, she hushed the audience and accused the texter of ‘breaking the bond’ between cast and audience.

In footage captured by a theatregoer, Ms Pike can be seen gesturing to a corner of the room.

She says: ‘Somebody was texting in this part – you know who you are. I’m not going to single you out but you know it upsets the performance.

‘Maybe it was very important. Maybe you’re a doctor and you’re saving someone’s life and I hope you are.

‘But we do see things – we do feel them and so when I feel that and see it it’s hard.’

She added: ‘I’m trying to tell you a story and I’m feeling you and I hope you’re feeling me too.’

The moment Rosamund Pike publicly shamed an audience member for texting during her West End play

The moment Rosamund Pike publicly shamed an audience member for texting during her West End play

Ms Pike told the audience: 'Somebody was texting in this part - you know who you are'

Ms Pike told the audience: ‘Somebody was texting in this part – you know who you are’

One audience member later took to social media in support of Ms Pike’s comments.

He said on X: ‘It was an amazing show, but huge props to Rosamund Pike for calling out someone for texting. 

‘She took time during the curtain call to point out how unacceptable it is, especially during a pivotal scene. The actors are giving a live performance right in front of you. Put your phone away for a couple of hours.’

Another person said: ‘Rosamund Pike calling out an audience member in the stalls section who texted during a very important/ intense moment during curtain call was quit cool.’

Despite her stern words, the 47-year-old actress was given a round of applause after her speech and for her performance in the production, which runs for 100 minutes without interval.

In Inter Alia, Ms Pike plays the character Jessica, a senior judge who advocates for better treatment of female sexual assault victims – but is then forced to come to terms with her 18-year-old son being accused of rape.

The performance is a follow-up to Suzie Miller’s 2022 legal drama Prima Facie.

In April, Ms Pike was brought to tears during the curtain call of the Inter Alia press night. 

Rosamund Pike is seen in her role as Crown Court judge Jessica in Inter Alia at the National Theatre

Rosamund Pike is seen in her role as Crown Court judge Jessica in Inter Alia at the National Theatre

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Is West End etiquette dying? Fears theatregoers will stop attending shows due to disruptive audience

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The Gone Girl star was seen with her head in her hands as she was given thunderous applause for her performance.

The West End show has received glowing reviews from critics with the Daily Mail’s Patrick Marmion awarding it four stars.

Ms Pike’s warning to theatregoers followed Heathers: The Musical star Kate Rockwell’s frustrated tirade at drunken audience members and rowdy superfans in March – adding to fears that West End etiquette is on the decline.

The intervention sparked a large debate online as fans threatened to boycott the West End if preventions weren’t put in place to stop disruption ruining shows.

A Reddit user who claimed to be an experienced actor in the UK weighed in on the debate online and insisted we are now in an ‘epidemic of rudeness’, adding ‘social etiquette is out of the window’. 

They wrote: ‘Professional and amateur theatre actor here with 20+ years experience in stages across the UK. 

‘Within the past few years audiences have become shockingly rude and treating the theatre space as if it were the cinema; talking loudly, on phones constantly, not engaging with the performance, smuggling in inappropriate food and heckling MY GOD the heckling.’

They concluded: ‘It’s an epidemic of rudeness that’s only going to get a hell of a lot worse because social etiquette is out of the window.’




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