A front of house staff member was mortified when she unwittingly told Andrew Lloyd Webber off for filming while he was watching his own show.
Hayley Baldwin, from London, went to have a word when she noticed a member of the audience at the theatre where she works was recording the performance.
She tweeted about her experience, revealing the composer, 71, reacted by shaking his head, waving his arms and shouting ‘no’.
It prompted others to share the embarrassing moment they scolded an audience member – only to realise they were a celebrity.
But many commenters sided with Hayley, saying that she’d been following the correct procedures and that the rules on filming in the theatre should apply to everyone.
Mail Online has contacted a representative for Baron Lloyd-Webber for comment.
Hayley Baldwin (pictured), from London, went to have a word when she noticed a member of the audience at the theatre where she works was recording the performance
Hayley, a musical theatre graduate, wrote: ‘So today I accidentally told THE Andrew Lloyd Webber off for filming his own show… guess there goes my chances of ever being in any of his shows in the future.’
When asked how Mr Lloyd Webber reacted Hayley said: ‘If I’m honest, it’s a blur.
‘But there were a lot of waving arms and shaking of heads whilst he was shouting “no”.
‘I then panicked and just replied with “Oh okay”, and said sorry more times than I probably should’ve, and ran and hid.’
Others were quick to share their own experiences, including telling off theatre director Cameron Mackintosh and asking The Spice Girls’ Emma Bunton to stop taking pictures in London’s West End.
Hayley was mortified when she accidentally told Andrew Lloyd Webber (pictured last December) off for filming while he was watching his own show
Another staff member revealed he’s also had a Llyod Webber, run in writing: ‘Don’t worry we told him off at the Donmar for talking all the way through one of the Divas at the Donmar shows – just bad manners.’
Another added: ‘If it helps an ex friend of mine once “sshh’d” him during Heathers at his own theatre.’
‘I told Baby Spice off for taking pictures in a theatre once…. same rule for everyone!’ another said.
Another wrote of the time her husband asked the producer Cameron Mackintosh to move out of his seat.
She tweeted about her experience, prompting others to share the embarrassing moment they told off an audience member – only to realise they were a celebrity
They said: ‘Reminds me of opening night party of the first tour of Phantom of the Opera, Edinburgh in the early ’90s.
‘Hubbie went to get puddings and came back to find his seat next to me was taken.
‘Huffily and obliviously asked THE Cameron Mackintosh to move. Ever wanted the floor to swallow you up?!!!
‘To be fair we were his guests at his Opening Night Party (800 guests in total), so I guess he was fully entitled to sit in whosoever seat he chose!
‘My husband, being an engineer by trade, was merrily oblivious to who “he” was and we still chuckle about it nearly 30 years later.’
Others were quick to share their own experiences of ‘shhing’ Mr Lloyd Webber, telling off theatre director Cameron Mackintosh and even asking The Spice Girls’ Emma Bunton to stop when she was taking pictures in London’s West End
Another added: ‘Don’t worry- one half of our team once told a very noisy person in the foyer to keep their voice down as the show had started, and FOH staff had been told to make sure people were quiet in the foyer.
‘The person talking loudly was the lead producer- who also made the rule!’
Another said: ‘Do not fret, I told Cameron Mackintosh off once for standing in an area where audience members are not allowed to stand.
‘Marched over there, tapped him on the shoulder and told him to move, and then he turned around and I slowly backed away mouthing “Oh my god, sorry”.’
One woman said her husband was sitting next to Mr Lloyd Webber and the moment Hayley told him off was the best part of the night
Another revealed: ‘We told off John Major for getting in our way at a Test Match (photographer brought him out for photos during play).’
‘I also walked onto the ‘Blitz’ set of 1940s war drama “The Winds of War” wearing a ‘The Prisoner’ t-shirt, carrying my squash bag. Upset people both times!’
Others were supportive as they leapt to her defence, saying Mr Lloyd Webber should have known better than to react by getting angry.
Others were more supportive as they leapt to her defence, saying Mr Lloyd Webber should have known better than to react by getting angry
One penned: ‘If he hasn’t got the required permissions, it is as illegal for him to film the design and performers, as anyone else.
‘And you were not to know. So that’s on him. He should have arranged for them to do it from the box, and you were protecting HIS work.’
‘I would have done as well. Ownership is no excuse for poor theatre etiquette,’ one added.