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Madonna's hung up - pop superstar bans phones from gig

 

MADONNA fans hoping to snap a picture of the superstar during her upcoming Madame X tour have been told they will be thrown out of theatres if they try.

The superstar who is about to embark on a six-month run of theatre shows has banned all photography and filming with phones to be disabled during performances.

The edict comes after the Like a Virgin singer was reportedly banned from a Texas cinema chain for annoying other viewers by texting in 2013.

Madonna, 61, was said to be using the device during a screening of 12 Years a Slave at the New York Film Festival.

Fans, some of whom have paid upwards of £1,000 for a ticket, are less than happy at the rule while others have welcomed it.

One wrote on Twitter: “This comes from Madonna who used her phone during a ballet performance, screening of 12 years of slave etc.”

Another said: “Look, I love Madonna, but I respectfully disagree with the cell phone ban. 

"She needs to adapt her shows and realize that theatrical tours will essentially be ‘spoiled’ in the digital age.”

Concert-goers sick of having their view blocked by a sea of mobile phone screens have welcomed the announcement.

One wrote: “I love that Madonna isn’t allowing any phones - that means we’re in for a night of something that requires our undivided attention.”

Fans were told of the ban by emails sent out by Ticketmaster ahead of the show’s premier in New York later this month.

Madonna will kick off her Madame X tour at the Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn with the extravaganza scheduled to reach London’s Palladium Theatre in February.

It has already been hit by production problems which forced show cancellations delaying the start date.

Madonna’s latest artistic outing has not been smooth with a dire performance at the Eurovision Song Contest followed by poor album sales.

The Queen of Pop has also been criticised for charging extortionate prices for concert tickets which range from £150 to £700 with VIP packages more than £1,200.

Now the superstar has told American fans their phones will be locked in tamper-proof wallets during the show.

A statement from Ticketmaster reads: “This event will be a phone-free experience.

“Use of cellphones, smart watches, smart accessories, cameras or recording devices will not be permitted in the performance space.

“After the ticket scanning process, all phones and smart watches will be secured in Yondr cases that will be opened at the end of the event.

“Anyone seen using a cellphone during the performance will be escorted out of the venue.”

 

The order is likely to be enforced when the star reaches the UK next year for her 15-night run at the London Palladium next year.

Madonna is not the first to ban photography during her shows with British singer Kate Bush issuing a similar instruction during her acclaimed Before the Dawn performance at London’s Eventim Apollo Hammersmith in 2014.

Madonna asked people not to take pictures during her 2004 Reinvention Tour although this time rather than making a polite request, the policy will be physically enforced.