Wearing blue on stage is historically considered bad luck due to a theater superstition. In the early days, blue dye was incredibly expensive. To prevent failing acting companies from going bankrupt on lavish costumes, producers spread the rumor that wearing blue was unlucky—unless countered with a touch of silver.
Blue should not be worn on stage.
Perhaps this myth has not survived as strongly as some other superstitions because the reason behind it is no longer relevant. At one point in theater history, blue dye was the most expensive of all the fabric colorings.
In a theater, you should never say the name "Macbeth." According to a long-standing theatrical superstition, speaking the title of Shakespeare's famous tragedy inside a theater building is believed to bring terrible bad luck, injuries, or disaster to the production.
Theater Audience Etiquette
1) Saying “Macbeth” in the theatre curses the production.
It's said that the actor playing Lady Macbeth tragically died on opening night in 1606 and Shakespeare himself had to step in. Dueling Macbeth productions in New York caused the great Astor Place Riot in 1849, leaving at least 25 dead and hundreds injured.
According to a theatrical superstition, called the Scottish curse, speaking the name Macbeth inside a theatre, other than as called for in the script while rehearsing or performing, will cause disaster.
In theater, wishing someone "good luck" is considered bad luck. Theatrical superstition suggests that malevolent spirits or fairies exist in the theater and will do the exact opposite of what you wish. By directly saying "good luck," you are believed to invite failure.
What you shouldn't say in a theater depends heavily on who you are asking.
The golden rule of theater etiquette is to respect the performers, the audience, and the theater space. Those involved in a production work very hard to give a great performance. It is the job of the audience to give the performance the respect it deserves.
In this post, I posit that great acting has its foundation in three key areas: COURAGE, CHARISMA, and CONNECTION. I start with courage because I feel that this is truly at the very core of a great performer. Most of us think courage has to do with bravery and a deep strength of will.
Someone who loves theatre is most commonly called a theatregoer or a theatre enthusiast. Depending on how they express that love, other common terms include:
If you've ever had a career in the arts, or know someone who has, you are likely aware that saying the word “Macbeth” inside a theatre is strictly taboo unless one is rehearsing or in the midst of performing Shakespeare's dark tragedy. Doing so is almost universally believed to bring about bad luck or even disaster.
In the Bible, God uses the color blue (Hebrew: tekhelet) to symbolize heaven, divinity, and obedience. It is associated with the divine presence, the heavens, and the commandments, serving as a visual bridge between the earthly realm and the divine.
"Unlucky" colors vary entirely by culture, tradition, or personal astrology. While one color might signify misfortune in one region, it could mean prosperity in another.
According to theatrical superstition, certain objects are 'cursed' and should never be brought on stage, one of them being the peacock feather. In Shakespeare's time, peacock feathers were generally considered bad luck; the feather's iconic 'eye' pattern being interpreted as 'the evil eye'.
Five Rules of Theatre Etiquette
The biblical Golden Rule is an ethical principle taught by Jesus instructing individuals to treat others as they would like to be treated themselves. It serves as an active, positive standard for daily morality and is a foundational guideline across Christian teachings.
In facial aesthetics, the Golden Ratio (Φ≈1.618) is used by cosmetic surgeons to mathematically measure facial symmetry and proportion. According to studies from the Centre for Advanced Facial Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery, the following actors consistently rank closest to this standard of physical perfection:
The forbidden theater word is "Macbeth."
Yes, Taylor Swift was a theatre kid. Growing up in Pennsylvania, she actively participated in children's and community theatre before fully committing to music.
1. Section 294 of the IPC, often invoked by the police to deal with cases of public display of affection, says that any obscene act, in any public place “done to the annoyance of others” is an offence. 2.
Christians often avoid saying "good luck" because they believe life is guided by God's providence rather than random chance. Instead, they use phrases that express faith, encouragement, or reliance on God.
Actors avoid saying "Macbeth" in a theater out of a famous superstition that uttering the name brings the “Scottish Curse,” inviting disaster, injury, or production failure. Instead, they refer to it using euphemisms like "The Scottish Play" or "The Bard's Play".
Yes! "Break a leg" is the classic, go-to phrase used in the entertainment industry to wish actors good luck before a performance or audition.