An employee of the Kazakh State Circus in Almaty has published a video showing the condition of the auditorium after one of the performances. The footage shows rubbish and food remains scattered on the floor.
According to Tengrinews.kz, she noted that many visitors seem to come to the circus not only for the show but also to eat food right in the auditorium.
"Look at how people are sitting. It's just a mess. It's as if they come not for the performance, but just to eat," said the woman.
The published footage shows chewing gum on the floor, snack wrappers, empty bottles, and dirty stains on the flooring.
The circus employee claims that after each performance, she and her brother clean the auditorium. According to her, this situation occurs regularly. The cleaning becomes particularly difficult after visits from school groups, when the amount of rubbish increases significantly.
The video sparked an active discussion on social media. Many users supported the video's creator, pointing out that such behaviour reflects the general level of culture in society.
"This always infuriates me! As soon as they enter the foyer, they have to go straight to the buffet, as if they aren't fed at home! And then the crunching from all sides! The standard of behaviour has dropped through the floor! There is absolutely no concept of what is acceptable and what isn't," wrote one user.
At the same time, the most common topic in the comments under the video was the question of the feasibility of banning the bringing in of food to the auditoriums of circuses, theatres, and cinemas.
The circus press service reported that, at present, introducing a ban on bringing food into the auditorium is not planned.
"This practice is in line with the approach adopted in many circuses around the world. This situation is a consequence not of allowing food in the auditorium, but of the low level of culture among certain audience members who fail to observe basic rules of conduct in a cultural institution," the statement said.
They also urged visitors to maintain order and respect others, noting that it is not easy for staff to keep the place clean after performances.
"In the future, a reconstruction of the circus is planned, within the framework of which the issues of audience comfort and the organisation of buffet areas will be further addressed. We recommend that guests use the buffet before the performance, during the interval, or after the end of the show," the circus added.