Complaints for shows at Venue Cymru

The Full Monty, a production of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap and Peter Andre are included on a list of the most complained about shows at a top North Wales theatre.
Figures provided in a Freedom of Information request to the Local Democracy Reporting Service show that, in the last 10 years, shows at Llandudno’s Venue Cymru had a total of 95 complaints.
These ranged from complaints about stars not performing to the weather stopping punters seeing performances by their favourite singer.
But the most complaints were received about audience behaviour at a performance of The Full Monty, which provoked 20 of the 24 complaints Venue Cymru received during the whole of 2017.
Gripes included audience members bringing their own booze and getting drunk during the show, which tells the story of a group of unemployed Sheffield steel workers who become male strippers.
The next most complained about performance was over The Mouse Trap in 2013, with 18 audience members annoyed that they could not hear the actors from where they sat.
A 2012 performance by Australian pop star Peter Andre was spoiled for some, with 17 complaints that patrons could not make the show due to poor weather conditions.
In 2019, there were 14 complaints that Connie Fisher could not take to the stage for The Sound of Music due to illness.
Cllr Mark Baker, cabinet member for heritage and culture, said: “Any complaints or comments we receive are taken seriously and help us to develop and improve our services.
“The team at Venue Cymru want everyone attending a show, event or conference to enjoy the experience, and I thank the staff for all their hard work.”
2010 – The Sound of Music saw 14 complaints as Connie Fisher had been taken ill and couldn’t be in the show.
2011 – A performance by Only Men Aloud featured four complaints about restricted views.
2012 – Peter Andre’s appearance saw 17 patrons complain that they couldn’t attend due to poor weather conditions.
2013 – The Mousetrap attracted 18 complaints from people who had trouble hearing the actors from where they were seated.
2014 – Evita had two complaints over the temperature of the auditorium and difficulty hearing the actors.
2015 – Annie saw five complaints about restricted views and about a noisy audience member.
2016 – Hairspray had three complaints about a restricted view.
2017 – The Full Monty had 26 complaints about drunk patrons in the auditorium causing disruption.
2018 – A performance by comedian Ross Noble attracred three complaints about seating.
2019 – Sherlock Holmes had three complaints about the temperature in the auditorium.

By Shane Brennan – Local Democracy Reporter