An Edinburgh family who took a trip to see Annie at the Edinburgh Playhouse have said that stewards made them "feel like children" when they were scolded for miming during the show.
Pensioner Christine Field and her sister Liz McLaughlin, along with their two nieces Dot Smith and Sam Braid, who are in their 40s, had been looking forward to the hit show and were excited as they purchased their drinks before making their way to their seats on Saturday March 25.
They asked a stewardess if they would be allowed to sing along with the iconic Annie tunes but were informed that no singing was allowed in the gallery.
READ MORE - KFC 'sorry' after Edinburgh TV hosts gets 'ruined meal' that was 'thrown' in bucket
The four family members joked that they would just mime along to the tunes and when the first song was performed they mimed to one another for a laugh. But they said the stewardess came over during the first number and told them not to sing - despite the fact they said they were just "swaying".
They claimed the ordeal left a bad impression and they were upset by their treatment - with one of them even apparently followed to the toilets by security.
As well as this, they said a manager brushed their complaints aside when they raised their concerns regarding being "treated like children."
Christine said: “I attended a showing of Annie on Saturday, March 25 with my sister and my two nieces. We purchased drinks from the bar and proceeded to our seats. We were seated in the circle and I asked the stewardess about singing as my sister and nieces did not realise this was not allowed. Having had that confirmed we joked and said we would just need to mime.
“The show started and obviously the first number you know and so we joked to each other about miming when suddenly the stewardess approached telling us not to sing. I said we are NOT singing!
“We were swaying slightly enjoying the music and she shook her hands saying NO! We could not believe it. Was this because we had drinks in our hands? Did she think we were intoxicated?
“We are pensioners and our nieces are in their 40s. I for one was not spending all that money on tickets to attend drunk!
“My family was exactly the same. Now a gentleman across the aisle had two calls on his mobile. His phone lit up as well as rang yet nothing was said to him. He made much more noise and disruption than we did.
“My sister was extremely upset about this as we were absolutely not singing or creating a disturbance. She was so upset that she went to speak to the manager and who said she did not realise why we were upset.
“She was then followed by security as she visited the toilets. We were enjoying ourselves up till that point. We were embarrassed and we felt like children.
“We spoke to others around us who thought we had been treated badly as we had not disturbed them. We were just enjoying ourselves.
“After the past three years of covid people are trying to live again but the treatment directed towards us was out of order. We have two further shows booked and it is such a pity we have because we would not have booked them.
“I know if people who are very disruptive should be spoken to and I am aware people don't come to hear others singing and I totally appreciate that but I can not repeat it enough we were not singing.”
A spokesperson for the Playhouse said: "We don’t have a record of this complaint however where audience members disturb others during a show, they will be asked to moderate their behaviour accordingly to ensure everyone can fully enjoy the performance."
READ NEXT:
West Lothian superstar Susan Boyle nearly unrecognisable as she's spotted in hotel
Luke Mitchell's lawyers make new claim as they attempt to clear Midlothian murderer's name
Kate Middleton's unexpected five-word response when fan praises her 'perfect looks'
Fascinating footage from 1960s Edinburgh shows how the city has changed
Quirky Edinburgh home with unique home office in former schoolhouse hits the market
