London theatre goers given stickers to cover phones during David Tennant play about Nazis and holocaust

London theatre goers attending the revival of Cecil Philip Taylor’s play Good, starring David Tennant, have been given peel off stickers to place over their phone cameras. The move comes as the producers caught theatre patrons taking photos of the stage at the Harold Pinter Theatre as they look to “protect the impact of the narrative for future audiences.”

The controversial play, first performed in 1982, follows a “good man” ahead of the Second World War, who becomes seduced by facism and Nazi ideologies. The climax of the show sees the character, Professor John Halder, dressed head to toe in a Nazi uniform, demonstrating that even the good nature of a man can be manipulated by external influences and the power of propaganda.

That scene in particular in the West End revival of the show could also be one of the reasons for the blanket ban on photography; audiences who attended a performance of the show said that they were allowed to take photos after the curtain call when David Tennant was dressed in his normal attire. Tennant, who plays Halder in the revival, could be seen in full Nazi regalia moments before the curtain call.

In a statement to audiences, production company Fictionhouse “politely request[ed] that audiences put a sticker over their phone camera for performances of Good. This is to discourage people from taking photos or videos during the performance and sharing them on social media in order to protect the impact of the narrative for future audiences whose experience would be affected if a number of key moments from the play are revealed.”

The use of mobile phones in a theatre has long been viewed as a faux pas, with a famous incident involving Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig acknowledging a mobile phone ringing in the audience but didn’t break character. Comedians Dave Chappelle and Pete Davison have also asked audiences to place their phone in a Yondr pouch to avoid excerpts of their stand up being used out of context too.

Good is currently playing at the Harold Pinter Theatre until December 24 2022, with The National Theatre confirming that the show will be screened in cinemas as part of their National Theatre Live programme for 2023.