Michael James Manaia - New Zealand International Arts Festival ...

FOR STUDENTS
Kia ora and welcome to SchoolFest 101.
This is your guide to getting the most out of your Festival experience.
A live theatre performance can be really exciting. Everyone involved in the production – the cast and crew – work
very hard to give a great performance. It's also the job of the audience to help the performers give their best. One
way you can do this is by practicing the rules of theatre etiquette and by being generally considerate to others
around you.
Here are some etiquette tips:
Get there on time. To avoid being late, plan to arrive 30 minutes early. If you're late, you
might not be allowed into the show.
It's always a good idea to visit the restroom before the performance begins! It isn't always
easy to leave during a show.
Pay attention to any announcements that are made before the performance about the
rules of the theatre you're attending, and the location of the fire exits.
Don't take pictures during the performance. It can be very distracting to the performers
and could cause a mishap. The design of the show is also the intellectual property of the
producers. They don't want to see their property splashed over the internet!
Turn off your cell phone. Other than the noise & disruption it could make, it can interfere
with the sound system in the auditorium – even on silent. Please make sure it is
completely turned off.
Be considerate to those around you. Don't eat or talk during the performance ...
whispering is still speaking, so please limit this to emergencies only! If you need to unwrap
cough lozenges, try to do it during applause, or loud musical numbers.
Keep your feet on the floor, not on the seat or balcony in front of you. If you must leave
during a performance, wait for an appropriate break in the show or exit during intermission.
Do applaud when the performance is over. This tells the performers and crew that you
appreciate their work. Stand and applaud if you really thought the show was great. Some
audiences will shout out ‘Bravo' (for male) or ‘Brava' (for female) if they think a
performance was outstanding. You can also applaud and laugh at appropriate times
during the performance.
Now that you know what the etiquette is you can enjoy the show!