Audiences leaving rubbish on theatre floors after a show has been branded shocking by comedian Jason Manford, who asked: “Why do people do this?” Manford, who is starring in Jack and the Beanstalk at Manchester Opera House, filmed the rubbish, including popcorn, plastic cups, and empty packets, left among the seats. “Look at it. I even tidy up after the cinema. Unbelievable – you wouldn’t treat your home like that,” he said. He urged people to pick up their stuff at the end.
Manford said he used to work at a cinema and suggested people could find a bin at the end. Replying to Manford on social media, one user said: “Theatres should remind people that they must remove their litter at the end of the show.” Another user blamed “laziness” for people leaving food and wrappers on the floor. Venues such as theatres and cinemas also provide staff to pick up litter after audiences leave.
In the UK, littering had surged after lockdown, environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy said, in 2020 after the collection of rubbish and recycling had been disrupted in some areas by the pandemic. Psychologist Lee Chambers told the Yorkshire Post that littering was “more complex than people think,” saying “if an area is well-maintained and free of rubbish, then we are less likely to litter. Conversely, if a place has a lot of litter and poor access to rubbish bins, we are more likely to litter.” So audiences may see other people’s litter as “environmental cues” to drop their own.
Music festivals such as Glastonbury employ hundreds of volunteers to return the sites to their natural beauty. Waste Management Resources suggests providing litter bins and bins that offer separate compartments for recyclable items such as plastic bottles, paper cups, and popcorn holders. The UK Cinema Association said: “While we would encourage audience members to take any rubbish with them when they leave the auditorium and put it in the waste bin, everyone should be confident that staff will be on hand to pick up any litter, and make sure the screen is clean and tidy before the next show.
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