Insulting attitude

I attended concerts at the Usher Hall on 20 and 21 August. On both occasions, mobile phones went off during the performance. Sunday night’s instance was particularly bad; it occurred just at the start of a piece specially commissioned for the Festival.

I wrote to the Usher Hall about this, and learned that front of house announcements were discouraged by the Edinburgh International Festival organisers on the basis that they are insulting to the members of the audience who don’t use mobiles.

So presumably it isn’t insulting to members of the audience and, particularly to performers, that phones go off during concerts!

James Dale

George Square

Edinburgh