I’ve never been one for caring about superstitions, things such as not walking under ladders and so forth, but there are a number of them in the theatre, and some peculiar ones to Germany. Most people are aware of the superstitions about not wishing a performer ‘good luck’, and so say things like ‘break a leg’, although I’ve heard that this term actually refers to 18th century bowing. In Germany the well wish usually takes the form of ‘toi toi toi’, or sometimes mimicking three spits over the left shoulder (which is presumably where ‘toi toi toi’ comes from). The important thing is not to say thank-you, and this is quite a culture shock to not thank someone for their well wish.

Another German theatre rule is ‘no whistling’ anywhere in the theatre, as this is supposedly bad luck. It comes from the time before fire alarms, when whistling was the fire alarm. I have had to catch myself a number of times in the corridor. It’s not that I think it will bring bad luck, but that I respect that others might be offended by it, so I refrain. Dealing with superstition is an interesting issue, and I wonder how many people actually hold to the superstitions or just hold to the traditions.

Personally, I like the Aussie well wish: ‘Chookas!’, but I’ve no idea where that comes from.