Rosamund Pike addressed an audience member for using their phone during a performance of Inter Alia at Wyndham’s Theatre, highlighting the impact of such behaviour on live theatre.

Olivier Award-winning actress Rosamund Pike, who stars as Crown Court judge Jessica Parks in Suzie Miller’s Inter Alia, interrupted the curtain call of a recent show at Wyndham’s Theatre to speak directly to the audience about phone usage during the performance.

Pike referred to an incident where an audience member was texting during a key scene, expressing the difficulty this causes for actors trying to share a story live on stage. She acknowledged the possibility that the message could have been important, but emphasised that performers are acutely aware when phones are used.

“I am trying to tell you a story, and I’m feeling you, and I hope you’re feeling me too,” Pike said, before inviting the audience to consider the effect of distractions during a performance.

Her intervention was met with applause, and posts on social media praised Pike for addressing the issue openly, spotlighting the broader impact of phone use on theatrical performances.

Pike is part of a growing group of stage performers publicly commenting on audience etiquette. Recent examples include Lesley Manville’s criticism of photography during curtain calls and Cynthia Erivo halting a Dracula performance upon spotting audience filming.

Inter Alia is currently running at Wyndham’s Theatre and is next scheduled for a transfer to Broadway, where the conversation about audience conduct may continue to resonate.