American comedian and actor Kevin Hart will be in Manchester this week for a huge stand-up gig as part of his UK arena tour.
He’ll be bringing his Reality Check comedy tour to Manchester's AO Arena on Tuesday, April 25, then heading off to perform two nights in London before concluding the tour in Glasgow on April 29, 2023. Hart, who started out as a stand-up comic before appearing in Hollywood films and TV shows, last performed in the city six years ago as part of his What Now? tour.
Marking his return, the comedy icon has made a slight tweak to his performance - and it's to do with mobile phones and electronic devices. To ensure both he and the audience ‘enjoy the show in the moment without distraction’, Hart is making all of his shows on the tour phone-free with rules in place to make sure devices are not used during the performance - anyone who doesn't comply will be 'asked to leave'.
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The funny man has partnered with Yondr, an American company which creates mobile phone pouches which close with a magnetic lock. Meanwhile, the AO Arena in Manchester has issued a reminder on social media and provided details on its website ahead of tonight’s show, with information on how the system works.
The arena has said the use of mobiles phones, tablets, smart watches, cameras and recording devices is not permitted at the event, and has advised gig-goers to leave these devices at home where possible. It also added that anyone caught using their phone or device during the gig will be asked to leave.
Yondr creates phone-free spaces for artists, educators, organisations and individuals so people can watch the show without distraction. It works with locking a phone or device in a neoprene pouch, which is released at the touch of an unlocking base.
Doors for the gig open at 6pm, and organisers have recommended arriving early as the Yondr bag securement process could result in some delays during entry, and ahead of the 8pm start time. Upon arrival, guests will be asked to silence their phones and remove smartwatches before all devices are secured in a pouch, which punters will be able to take with them into the main performance space.
The guidance adds that guests can only access their devices in designated Phone User Areas within the venue and all electronic devices must be re-secured in Yondr pouches before returning to the performance space. On the way out, gig-goers can visit an unlocking station in the lobby to unlock the pouch and drop it into the collection bins provided.
The comedian is not the first artist or celebrity to go device-free at an event. Others who have paved the way include comedians Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock, as well as singers Alicia Keys and Bob Dylan.
In case of an emergency evacuation, the arena has also clarified that Yondr has been incorporated into venue's security procedures. Attendees are advised to follow event stewards instructions in the case of an emergency, and not to wait to unlock your Yondr pouch. It added that, "the Kevin Hart tour appreciate your co-operation in creating a phone-free viewing experience."
Beyond his stand-up career, Kevin Hart has become a Hollywood box office powerhouse, two times New York Best-selling author and a highly successful entrepreneur. He became Netflix's biggest stand-up special of 2020, an earned a Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album as well off the back of this.
Named of the highest-earning stand-up comedians of 2019 by Forbes, his previous global comedy tour sold out over 100 arenas around the world including three O2 Arena shows, and he sold over one million tickets worldwide in 2018 during his Irresponsible Tour.
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