Sadie Sink slams phone use during theatre performances, says glowing screens fill her with ‘rage’
Hollywood actress Sadie Sink has criticised audience members who use their mobile phones during live theatre performances, saying the glowing screens distract actors and spoil the experience for everyone watching.
Sink made the remarks in an interview on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, while speaking to Nylon magazine about her recent stage performances and upcoming projects.
The 24-year-old actress, best known for her role as Max Mayfield in Stranger Things, recently concluded her run as Juliet in a West End production of Romeo & Juliet in London.
Speaking about theatre etiquette, Sink expressed frustration over audience members who switched on their phones before the performance had fully ended.
“The lights go off, and then I just see all these faces in the audience because everyone is turning their phone on,” she said.
“Guys, give it a minute.”
“Take it in for a second!” she added.
Sink admitted that the sight of illuminated phone screens during a live performance deeply upsets her.
“I am filled with so much rage when I see, like, three iPhones in the audience,” she said.
The actress explained that some audience members begin using their phones while actors are still on stage, breaking the emotional atmosphere of the production and distracting both performers and fellow theatre-goers.
Despite her criticism, Sink acknowledged that she once relied on unofficial recordings of theatre productions while growing up in Texas because she did not have easy access to Broadway shows.
She said those recordings inspired her love for acting but stressed that audiences attending live performances should respect the actors and wait for professionally filmed versions of productions instead.
Sink’s comments come amid growing concern within the theatre industry over disruptive audience behaviour, with several performers in recent months also speaking out against the use of mobile phones during live shows.
The actress is also preparing for the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on July 31, 2026.
