London, July 18 (IANS): Actor Kit Harington says the future of the theatre could be in jeopardy if there continues to be "prejudice aimed towards a new and younger generation of theatregoers".

The “Game of Thrones” star has found himself at the centre of a heated debate after award-winning theatre producer Richard Jordan stated that audiences had behaved inappropriately at the final night of Harington's "Doctor Faustus" at London's Duke of York theatre recently, reports express.co.uk. 

Dismissing Jordan's remark, the 29-year-old actor said: "I am afraid that if the theatre is going to die of anything it will be from exactly this type of stereotyping and prejudice aimed towards a new and younger generation of theatregoers.

"I have been a theatregoer since childhood and I didn't feel that our audiences were disrespectful in the slightest. In the whole run of 10 weeks I can count one time that a phone went off in the audience."

Harington added: "Of course pictures were occasionally taken, as unfortunately cannot be avoided in any audience anywhere today, but on the whole it was not a huge amount and definitely not off-putting as a performer.

"I found our audiences to be hugely enthusiastic, energised and responsive. I can't think of a greater support I've had as an actor on the stage."

His comments come after Jordan described the audience of "Doctor Faustus" final night as "possibly the worst West End audience I have ever encountered".