Theatre seat prices

If I have a birthday etc coming up and anyone asks if there’s anything I’d like I ask for theatre tokens. Just done this with the group of ladies I go to a coffee morning with. We decided this year to all contribute to one main gift rather than buy individual gifts. My family but me them too. They know it’s a much wanted gift. Even if I have to put a little extra to the amount of the ticket I don’t mind. Just a thought.

If you don’t mind standing, the groundling tickets at the Globe are £5 or £10, depending on how soon you book.

When I go to the National Theatre I buy £20 tickets (first 3 rows). Tickets need to be purchased well in advance, though I usually book where someone else has cancelled.

There are countless small theatres, sometimes the historic pub theatres, where top price is usually £15 or £20.

Personally, I prefer the small theatre productions as they are usually very creative, but that’s personal preference.

Sign up to Central Tickets for discount offers.

And if you sign up you will get lots of notifications of London Theatre Week next year - August / September - when they reduce prices a lot, you buy them in that week but they often advertise them for months in advance.

Last week I had brilliant seats for The Play That Went Wrong reduced from £66 to £35

I agree, it is expensive. I love classical concerts and musicals and do still go to live performances a couple of times a year. My local cinema do live screenings of some concerts, operas, Christmas ballets (Nutcracker etc) and these are a more affordable option. It's not the same as experiencing the atmosphere and excitement of a live performance but does mean I can go more often. There is a small bar too; so can enjoy a glass of wine during the performance.
Whenever I've been to the theatre it has always been packed - regardless of the price. Next week I'm going to see The Rock Orchestra in Nottingham. I only caught the advert for them a few days ago and probably bagged the last 2 tickets; so theatre/live music is certainly not dead.

I live around 45 minutes south of London but no longer go to the theatre there at night mostly due to the pot luck system the railways operate by. I am always worried about the last train being cancelled.
I go to a local cinema now to watch events cinema. Not quite the same atmosphere as being in the theatre watching the cast in the flesh but tickets prices are a quarter of the price for watching the same show or play from excellent seats, I don't have to pay or worry about trains and can be back home in no time.
Performing Arts were clobbered during Covid and had to wait longer than pubs and restaurants to re-open so perhaps they are trying to claw back some of their losses. The cast will be affected by the cost of living as the rest of us so probably earn higher wages.
I don't know how old your dgc is but if he loves the theatre and London is not too far for you to travel, have a look at some of the theatre tours. The Globe and Theatre Royal, Drury Lane have a wealth of history to impart and are around the £20-25 mark. Not bad for London.