Benedict Cumberbatch Urges Fans to Put Away Their Cameras During Play

After another stage performance in “Hamlet” this past weekend, actor Benedict Cumberbatch stopped outside the Barbican theater in London to make a request of his fans: he wants theater-goers to put away their cameras during his performances.

Kari Johansen Persheim recorded the short monologue in the video above. In the description, she writes: “Benedict Cumberbatch urges fans not to take photos during Hamlet play at the stage door at Barbican, 8 August 2015.”

Speaking to the large crowd of fans gathered outside the theater, Cumberbatch politely says that seeing cameras pointed at him during the play is “mortifying” and that there’s “nothing less supportive or enjoyable” for the actors on stage.

The actor, currently starring in the fastest-selling play in British history, says that audience member cameras make it hard for him to deliver a good performance. He wants his message to be spread far and wide so that people know not to pull out their cameras for photos and videos during theatrical performances.

“This isn’t me blaming you, this is just me asking you to just ripple it out there, in the brilliant beautiful way that you do with your funny electronic things,” he says.

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