From Jackie Hawthorn, Freshwater:

Three adult family members and I went to Shanklin Theatre last Friday to see the excellent Milton Jones and his equally impressive supporting act, comedian Chris Stokes.

We sat in the second row of the stalls.

We were unfortunate enough to have, sitting behind us in row C, a husband and wife who started the show by arguing loudly between themselves to the extent that other members of the audience were looking round to see where the disturbance was coming from.

When the support act came on stage, the female member of this gruesome twosome began ‘cat calling’, using offensive language and terminology.

I know many stand-up comedians are happy to have a heckler to ‘bounce off,’ but this was no witty banter or amusing heckling. It was foul language and downright nasty behaviour.

Chris Stokes did well to deal with these interruptions to his act but appeared surprised and a little upset by the events.

During the interval, this husband and wife combo continued to argue loudly to the point where I turned round, saying, ‘Excuse me but if you want to have an argument would you like to do it outside as you are ruining the evening for other people’.

I will not repeat the threats and abuse which I then received from the female.

Other audience members supported me and backed my requests for them to shut up.

Several audience members expressed the view theatre staff should have evicted the couple and a member of my family went to find a male member of staff to report to.

He was then told that despite there being numerous witnesses (including female staff members) he would not take action unless he witnessed the behaviour for himself.

The point of this letter is this... Shanklin Theatre has, in recent months, attracted some top-line acts. If they are to continue to do so, they need to take a firmer stance with regard to obnoxious and anti-social behaviour.

Over an hour after returning home, we were still wound up and discussing what we witnessed when we should have been discussing the evening’s entertainment.

Theatre tickets are not cheap. Come on Shanklin Theatre. We should not have to tolerate this.

Editor’s footnote: Having also been at this performance, my anger was directed at the loudmouths rather than the volunteers who man the theatre, but point taken - Alan Marriott.