Sitting on my own at theatre

You could have said "Budge up, then" and squashed in next to her on the same seat.
I bet she would have moved then!

Nowadays I challenge such behaviour. You really should have said something.
I don’t think much of your friends though.

Your friends should have said thats x seat. Some nerve though, certainly a person to avoid.

They did say it was my seat and I'd be along shortly but she just sort of plonked herself on it and then ignored all hints to move. None of us were impressed with her behaviour.

I would have said in a very calm voice that this is the seat i paid for,so please move to the seat you paid for.
She is a cheeky ignorant bully IMO.

This is terrible, I really feel for you x

The brass neck of her! I’m not surprised you’re upset, Beswitched that’s appalling behaviour. Do you feel brave enough to say thing to her about ruining your evening? She’ll minimise it, of course, but stick to your guns for a proper apology. You’ve nothing to lose, she doesn’t sound like someone you’d want to be friendly with.

When you are up against someone so thick skinned you have to be quite assertive I would have said I ll have my seat back now, see you at half time or even made a joke and said thanks for keeping my seat warm see you in the interval
Unfortunately you didn’t and she ll do it or similar again
I feel so cross on your behalf I want to give her a real dressing down I couldn’t even bear to be in her company if I was you
And although you haven’t said it I m not at all impressed with your friends for not sticking up for you
Just not good enough

Lincslass

Really, with friends like yours you don’t need enemies, as the saying goes. One wonders why they didn’t tell this woman it was your seat, I certainly would have done. Awful for you.

I agree, the friends must have been very timid indeed.
Never let it happen again ( although it probably won’t.)

It's obviously too late now but for future reference just say 'come on xxx get out of my xxxxxxx seat'

Sorry couldn't help it ?

Some people are just plain rude.

All of the above!

I’m so sorry this happened to you.

Let us all learn for next time- hold our ground, and call our rudeness. Playing coy and hinting around to be nice gets you nowhere.

Zoejory

I'd have been furious. In fact I'd have been so furious I'd have flounced out. I've never grown out of flouncing.

I'd have been devastated that I couldn't slam a door on the way out either.

I like your style!

Appalling behavior!
It’s so easy to think after the event what you or friends should have said or done ?
Try to let it go for your own sake.

You did the right thing with respect to the play being about to begin. Your friends will respect you and blame the ignoramus who stole your rightful seat.

She must have been desperate for company to do such a thing!

I think your 'friends' should have told her the seat was taken and she would have to go back to her original seat ! not very nice for you ..but, having said that, I always go to the theatre, cinema, club, etc on my own and have no problems ....apart from sometimes people giving me an odd look ...........all I think is that Wait...one day YOU may be alone ............I would ask your friends why they gave her your seat !!!!!

this woman had a cheek you should of told her that was your sit and she should go to her own then abandon you to go for drinks with her, as for your friends are they really to allow this woman to treat you that way

How awful. Also how dare your friends let her do this. They should have explained that the seat was taken already. Why didn't they? Even though play was about to start I think I would have asked for my seat back.

OMG how awful for you.but did your friends then invite this woman as well for a drink? If so OMG so sorry for you

I thought this was going to be a thread about feeling awkward going to a theatre on your own, but I see it isn't.
I would have been very put out if someone had taken my seat. The woman was very rude. I can't imagine why your friends didn't say, 'This seat is reserved.'
Some people are cheeky beyond belief.

I can’t believe your friends didn’t stand by your side and say something like “time to let * sit in her seat now, quickly it’s starting!!!” Certainly would have gone over in first mini interval and said time to go to YOUR seat, I paid for this one. With what did happen, I would have left to be honest, I would have been so angry at been pushed out I’d have gone home and sent texts to friends to explain how I felt. I feel so angry for you, no wonder she was there alone!!!

I am so angry on your behalf Beswitched and
I am pretty sure that I would have been so upset I would have stormed out and gone home
Bl**dy cheek of the woman....as someone has already said "It's no wonder that she was there on her own if that's how she behaves!!"

What a cheeky madam!!! Also your friends should of told her the seat was taken and to get her posterior off it.

If I had been one of the friends I would have said immediately the woman tried to sit down, “sorry, that’s beswitched seat, she’s popped back to the car. Why didn’t they?

How rude was she? But I don't understand why your friends didn't ask her to move when they saw you standing there when you entered the theatre. What did they think that you were doing while they sat in the better seats, chatting away to that woman?
I think that they are also partly to blame and really see no reason why you shouldn't let them know how your evening was spoiled.
If I was also unlucky enough to see that woman at any point, I think I would also make my displeasure known, but as she is obviously thick skinned, just blank her!