On the opening night, riots broke out during a performance of "Macbeth" and continued throughout the play. At the end, the audience refused to leave so Kemble sent for the Bow Street police and other private militias, but this only made the situation worse, and the rioters did not disperse until 2am. After the first night, the rioters only came in at half price time, and the inside of the theatre was covered with banners and slogans. Newspapers and journals reported frequently on the riots, citing as central to its continuation a perceived suppression of customary liberties and a lack of dialogue between the patrons and the management.