Theatre fans have been given 15 trigger warnings for a performance of Phantom of the Opera including that it features depictions of violence and death.
His Majesty’s Theatre has released a guide for audiences of the musical, which has been deemed suitable for ages eight and above, telling audience members timings of the potential triggers.
Viewers are warned to expect loud sounds, gun shots, flashing lights, haze, fire, pyrotechnics and depictions of violence and death at certain points during the performance.
The production is running until September, with tickets starting at £25.
The decision by the Andrew Lloyd Webber show producers has been branded ‘beyond parody’.
Warnings in the show include ‘haze effects’ from in the lair, ‘flames across the stage’ and even a warning for a ‘flashing chandelier’ just five minutes into the production.
In the second act there are nine content warnings which include a ‘fire stick’ with no flashes, a gunshot (loud bang) and a ‘pyro candle’.
The warnings also give away some of the plot by including the timings of the hangings of two characters.
Based on a 1910 novel by Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera tells the story of a disfigured musical genius who haunts the Paris Opera House.
He becomes mesmerised by beautiful singer Christine Daaé and lures her as his protégé before falling deeply in love with her.
When’s Christine childhood sweetheart Raoul comes back into her life, the Phantom then kidnaps Christine and forces her to marry him.
However Christine chooses to leave with Raoul and the Phantom is left alone.
Toby Young, founder of the Free Speech Union, told The Sun: ‘This is beyond parody. It won’t be long before theatres ask audiences not to applaud at the end in case they trigger people who are sensitive to noise.’
It follows a trend of theatre shows being accused of patronising their audience members with obvious trigger warnings.
Fans of Murder on the Orient Express were warned to expect depictions of murder.
Matt Newbury, creative director of the Agatha Christie Festival, said: ‘Plot spoiler . . . the clue is definitely in the title.’
Another production of the Three Little Pigs fairy tale at the Chichester Festival Theatre told audience members the show included a reference to Father Pig being eaten by the Big Bad Wolf.
Last month a West End production of Oliver Twist also warned audiences about depictions of hunger.
The musical, is synonymous with the line ‘Please Sir, I want some more’ by Oliver asking for a second helping of food.
It also warned ticket holders to expect crime, ‘discriminatory’ language and violence.
Last December, meanwhile, another theatre was criticised for issuing a ‘woke’ trigger warning on an adaptation of another Charles Dickens novel, Nicholas Nickleby.
Bromley Little Theatre in south-east London warned audiences the production contained ‘Dickensian slurs’.
A content warning on the theatre’s website also advised that the production included ‘Abuse (physical, emotional, child), violence, suicide, murder, sexual assault, kidnap, mental illness, [and] sexism’.
The same theatre previously warned audiences that its version of Charlotte Bronte’s classic Jane Eyre included ‘arson’.