Using mobile phones, arriving late, and eating KFC are some of the things Pat Shortt recommends you should not do when visiting the theatre.

The IFTA-winning actor told The Pat Kenny Show today how the actions of audience members “can be a nightmare” at times, but you just have to "get on with it".

It comes as Irish actor Andrew Scott told a viral story this week of how one man began sending emails on his laptop during a past performance of Hamlet.

Mr Shortt said the wildest audience behaviour he experienced happened a number of years ago on Broadway.

“There was a kerfuffle at the back of the theatre and we kind of didn’t know what was happening until the interval,” he said.

“What happened was, a family had come in who ended up not being seated together.

“They brought in boxes of KFC and had started passing around drinks, napkins and buckets of chicken in the back of the theatre.

“Once staff realised what was going on they were removed from the theatre, that was what the kerfuffle was about.”

Pat Shortt in The Banshees of Inisherin. Image: Landmark Media / Alamy Stock Photo

Mr Shortt said audience distractions are “a strange experience when you’re on stage”.

“I could list off all the mad things that have happened,” he said.

“When you are on stage you’re concentrating on your performance, you’re acting opposite another actor and you’re trying to pick up queues from them and keep the rhythm going.

“Then, if something happens in the corner of your eye, it throws you off but you just have to keep going with the performance – it’s very unsettling.”

Phone use

Thankfully, phone use in theatres is on the decline.

“I don’t think the phone is as bad as it used to be," said Mr Shortt.

“When it first came out it was dreadful with five or six calls going off a night, but now people put them on silent.

“You do still see the glow in the third or fifth row from the person operating it because the theatre is dark and their face is lit up.”

Pat Shortt (right) pictured during a performance of The Cripple of Inishmaan on Broadway. Image: Associated Press / Alamy Stock Photo

Mr Shortt said there are other common disturbances too.

“Someone munching a packet of crisps in the front row isn’t great,” he said.

“If it comes to a quiet moment and you hear the rustling of a crisp packet it can put you off.

“People arriving late can be a problem too, especially as we sometimes perform on the floor, people could be walking through the scene.”

Alcohol

Mr Shortt said most disturbances are down to alcohol.

“Generally speaking, theatre audiences don’t be gargled,” he said.

“It’s the late-night audiences that you’ll find trouble, you could find anything going on with them.

“I’ve been that soldier myself too, watching the show through one eye.”

Cillian Murphy poses with his Golden Globe award at last night's ceremony. Image: Associated Press / Alamy Stock Photo

It’s been a fantastic year for Irish film, according to The Banshees of Inisherin and Killinaskully actor.

“Cillian Murphy’s win [at the Golden Globes] was incredible and there were a lot of other Irish actors up there too,” said Mr Shortt.

“I’ve done a lot up the North in Belfast actually and there’s a huge industry going on up there, but also down the south too.

“The whole country is doing great and it’s absolutely amazing to see.”

Tickets for Knuckle Down, Pat Shortt and his daughter Faye’s sketch show which is on tour right now, can be purchased on patshortt.com.

Main image: Pat Shortt pictured in Dublin, 25.06.11. Credit: WENN Rights Ltd / Alamy Stock