Dench condemns the rise of trigger warnings in theatre

Dame Judi Dench has voiced her disapproval of trigger warnings used in theatre, stating that audiences who can’t handle sensitive content should stay at home.

- LYDIA SPENCER-ELLIOTT

In some cases, trigger warnings are issued before the beginning of a performance to alert audiences to upsetting or distressing content.

The Shakespeare in Love actor, 89, said that people should be surprised by the plot of a play and questioned the “content guidance” that has been placed on performances at Shakespeare’s Globe in London. Speaking to Radio Times, Dame Judi said audiences should be given the opportunity to interpret material for themselves.

The Oscar-winner was horrified to learn trigger warnings had been placed on a performance of Antony and Cleopatra earlier this year for “depictions of suicide, scenes of violence and war, and misogynoir references”. “Do they do that? My God, it must be a pretty long trigger warning before King Lear or Titus