top of page

Why Aren't Theatre Seats Accessible For Fat People?

Writer's picture: Demi LynchDemi Lynch


This week I went to the theatre to see one of my favourite musicals.


However, what was meant to be a fun night turned into a nightmare.


I arrived at the theatre and the foyer was packed with hundreds of people.


My large body could barely make its way through the crowd.


It was a hot night and there were no fans or air conditioning.


I could feel all my makeup drip off my face.


My dress was drenched in sweat.


I had to take myself outside twice as I was getting too overwhelmed by the heat and the crowds.


There were barely any seats and nowhere to catch my breath.


Once I began to make my way into the theatre I started to feel faint and dizzy.


I became worried.


Was the theatre going to be hot too?


However, when I got to my seat things got much worse.


I couldn't fit in my seat.


I couldn't even sit on the edge of the seat let alone squeeze my fat body between the arm rests.


I was struggling to breathe.


I felt like all eyes were on me.


I felt like everyone was judging me.


I felt like everyone knew I was too fat for these seats.


A line of people were behind me trying to get past me to their seats.


I stood to the side near the stairs.


People were talking to me but I couldn't hear anything.


The room was spinning and more sweat leaked down my body.


I could barely see but I ran down the crowded staircase.


I knew people were staring but at that point I didn't care - I just needed to get out of there.


Tears and sweat poured down my face as I ran through the crowds of people.


I felt like I was breathing for the first time when I got outside.


I felt like someone had just lifted their foot off my chest.


I held onto the picket fence outside the theatre and focused on my breathing.


My chest felt so weak.


I continued to cry and gasp for air as I held onto the fence for balance.


People continued to walk by and stare.


I eventually had to sit on the front steps as I could no longer stand.


People continued to walk by and stare.


A staff member even walked by three times to have a smoke.


He just stared at me.


Judged me.


He didn't ask if I was okay or why I was shaking and crying on the ground.


 

I originally wasn't going to share this story.


But I thought maybe, just maybe, sharing this experience will make people understand that we live in a fatphobic society.


We live in a world where fat people aren't welcome.


If the seats were larger and the foyer had more chairs and fans - I could've watched my favourite musical this week.


But instead I sat outside on my own feeling like my body was an embarrassment.


I shouldn't feel like I have to change my body in order to fit a chair?


Why can't people just consider fat bodies like mine when they build and buy seats for planes, waiting rooms, theme park rides and the cinemas?


Fat people exist; we're not going anywhere.


So why not actually accommodate us?!


 

© 2024. Kaleidoscope News

We pay our respects to the traditional custodians of the Meanjin land. We acknowledge that we are on the stolen lands of the Jagera and Turrbal people, whose sovereignty was never ceded.

bottom of page