Dame Judi Dench tells sensitive people ‘don’t go to the theatre’ as screen legend rinses trigger warnings-Asyia Iftikhar-Entertainment – Metro

James Bond star Dame Judi Dench has strong opinions on the recent trend (Picture: Reuters)

British acting legend Dame Judi Dench has weighed in on the hottest topic on every thespian’s lips – should trigger warnings exist.

The 89-year-old star has conquered the stage, small and big screen across her seven-decade-long career.

Whether playing M in James Bond or featuring in countless Shakespeare productions on the West End, Judi’s charisma and sheer talent has dubbed her a national treasure.

Now she has added her two pence into the ongoing discussion (already addressed by stars such as Matt Smith and Ralph Fiennes) around the necessity of trigger warnings for theatre productions; a practice which is now ordinary.

Alongside warning about physical health risks (e.g. strobe lighting), programmes will normally list potential triggers that could mentally affect audience members such as themes of abuse, sexual assault and violence.

The common practice is news to Judi however, who said: ‘Do they do that?’ when asked about the use of trigger warnings in theatre.

Dame Judi made her stage debut in the Old Vic in Hamlet in 1957 (Picture: Getty)

‘My God, it must be a pretty long trigger warning before King Lear or Titus Andronicus! Crikey, is that really what happens now?’ she continued in a new interview with Radio Times.

Although she conceded she could ‘see why they exist’ to ‘prepare people’ the acclaimed actor added: ‘If you’re that sensitive, don’t go to the theatre, because you could be very shocked. Where is the surprise of seeing and understanding it in your own way?

‘Why go to the theatre if you’re going to be warned about things that are in the play?

Dame Judi has collected countless awards over her career (Picture: Anthony Harvey/REX/Shutterstock)

‘Isn’t the whole business of going to the theatre about seeing something that you can be excited, surprised, or stimulated by? It’s like being told they’re all dead at the end of King Lear. I don’t want to be told.’

Judi is far from the first actor to voice their concern about trigger warnings ruining the theatre experience.

Although this perspective has been slammed by people on social media outlining why they are important for victims of trauma.

In February, fellow theatre star Ralph Fiennes, 61, sparked discourse after he said audiences should be ‘shocked and disturbed’.

‘I think the impact of theatre should be that you’re shocked and you should be disturbed,’ the Harry Potter star added.

‘I don’t think you should be prepared for these things and when I was young, (we) never had trigger warnings for shows,’ he said at the time.

The Crown star Matt Smith ‘utterly and completely’ agreed shortly after, following his turn in the provocative West End show An Enemy of the People.

Doctor Who star Matt Smith is another actor joining in on the controversial topic (Dave Benett)

‘To be shocked, to be arrested out of ourselves, to recognise ourselves in front and with an audience.

‘I worry sometimes that we’re moving towards a sort of sanitised version of everything and we’re stripping the danger and the invention and the ingenuity out of everything.’

In another interview with Sky News, Lord of the Rings star Ian McKellen echoed the sentiment, saying he thought trigger warnings for references to ‘smoking’ or ‘bereavement’ were ‘ludicrous’.

She joins several actors in calling out trigger warnings (Picture: Guy Bell/REX/Shutterstock)

‘I quite like to be surprised by loud noises and outrageous behaviour on stage.’

After such a decorated career, Judi continues to make strides within the arts industry. She recently made history by becoming the first woman to join an exclusive private members’ club of actors and artists.

She is the first woman to join since the Garrick Club was opened 193 years ago.

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