To eliminate the use of phones during performances, Dailes Theatre has launched the 'Theatre Without Phones' campaign. The theatre has decided to conduct such a campaign before some repertoire performances, offering spectators at the entrance to the hall a special sticker to symbolically cover their phone cameras. With this sticker, the spectator expresses support for the privacy of the artists and advocates for a free, bold, open theatre without smart devices.
The campaign launched by the theatre received a great response on its first day, May 8, and after the performance, the theatre thanked the audience on its social media. "We have a wonderful audience! The viewers support our initiative, that is obvious. Of approximately 650 spectators this evening, only about 14 refused to stick the promotional sticker, and no one was forced to do so. During the performance, there was a wonderful atmosphere in the hall — not a single phone screen lit up throughout the performance. On behalf of the Dailes Theatre, the creative team, and the actors, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the viewers who support the measures introduced by the theatre to protect the privacy of the artists and allow for a free, open, bold, and beautiful theatre experience without phone screens and their cameras. Thank you to the audience who have already supported our campaign by symbolically covering their phone cameras with tape. We look forward to seeing you at the performance tomorrow evening!" — states the theatre's announcement.
Dailes Theatre — especially recently — has increasingly faced unauthorized use of mobile phone cameras during performances. Each performance is the intellectual property of the authors and the theatre, and it cannot be photographed, filmed, or reproduced. The use of phones during performances not only distracts the audience but also interferes with the work of the actors on stage. It is also extremely important that filming and photographing performances can violate the privacy of the actors. Given that the use of phones during performances is often extremely inappropriate, the theatre, as an employer, is obliged to ensure safe working conditions for the artists.
Juris Zagaras, director of Dailes Theatre: "Our efforts to limit the use of phones during performances gradually evolved into a campaign. But it all started with the need to protect our artists. Attempts to inspire the audience to actively participate and safely protest against the desire of outsiders to use their phones during the performance, informing the public about this decision, and communicating with the audience — all of this evolved into a slogan that is understandable to almost every true and regular theatre visitor: 'Theatre Without Phones.'"
