Theatre seat prices

And don't forget the rental costs also have to include the "upkeep" costs of historic buildings.

The west end is very expensive because the theatres tend to be old and small, the production costs are astronomical and running costs huge.

Even after the initial investmet a major West End musical can have fixed weekly running costs of £450,000.
​Salaries for a large cast of actors, dancers, and singers, ( and probably a full orchestra/band), stage managers, technical crew, and front-of-house staff for (usually) eight performances a week.
Renting the theatre itself.
Ongoing upkeep of the elaborate sets, costumes (dry cleaning, repair, and replacement), and technical equipment (lighting, sound).
​Royalties to the writers, composers, and rights holders of the show.
​and then utilities, insurance, and other operational expenses.

This is after the £8m - 10m set up costs.

Regularly went to London for theatre 20 years ago, lived near Oxford and had the 24 hour bus services. Moved a short distance away and though we have a train service it makes for a stressful schlep to Paddington for the last train. Prices have now become extortionate so we go to local theatres within a 30 minute drive.

A good way to see show cheaply is to support your local amateurs. Of course you don't get wonderful scenery and star performers but you get to see the show.

We no longer go to London for the theatre. With train fares, the necessary overnight stay in a “cheap” room and the cost of the theatre ticket we’re looking at around £1000 each. Local theatre is expensive but more manageable. It’s a rare treat.

The RSC Tempest is all booked up- story of my life...!

I’ve just booked to see a play this weekend, £12 each, ten minute drive, supporting our local players.

keepingquiet

Susieq62

I have just booked The Tempest at RSC next May , £30 each to see Kenneth Branagh. I also paid £25 to see Martin Sheen at NT in Nye. I think you have to put a limit on the price you are prepared to pay and stick to it.
Sometimes local small theatres are just as good to be honest, if you are lucky to have one! Especially for pantomime
Or see something streamed at the local cinema , that could be an option! I saw SIX streamed !

I would love to see The Tempest- thanks for the heads up I shall look it up!

By the way I have booked to see a Yoruba adaptation of Macbeth in the spring for the same price.

Shakespeare is cheaper because there's no copyright involved.

Susieq62

I have just booked The Tempest at RSC next May , £30 each to see Kenneth Branagh. I also paid £25 to see Martin Sheen at NT in Nye. I think you have to put a limit on the price you are prepared to pay and stick to it.
Sometimes local small theatres are just as good to be honest, if you are lucky to have one! Especially for pantomime
Or see something streamed at the local cinema , that could be an option! I saw SIX streamed !

I would love to see The Tempest- thanks for the heads up I shall look it up!

Totally agree. Prices are outrageous!

Only this afternoon I looked at Tickets for the touring "Matilda" in my area, depending on the time or the day there is a vast difference in cost. I checked out a Saturday at 2.30, the cheapest £44... Same time on a Thursday £22...that's no good all the children are at School.
So for a family of x4 in half decent seats on a Saturday afternoon you don't get much change from £400.

At least in my area it's only about 25 mins to Chichester Festival Theatre, with seats prices more palatable.

Fartooold

To see the pantomime at the end of the pier this Christmas is £250 for four! However will still be going as it is always good entertainment.

One of our local theatres has started doing a payment plan for the panto whereby you can pay in instalments throughout the year. I think it’s a good idea.

Obviously there must be enough silly people with enough silly money to burn, and while they are prepared to throw money at the likes of Ticketmaster then things won't change.

I have just booked The Tempest at RSC next May , £30 each to see Kenneth Branagh. I also paid £25 to see Martin Sheen at NT in Nye. I think you have to put a limit on the price you are prepared to pay and stick to it.
Sometimes local small theatres are just as good to be honest, if you are lucky to have one! Especially for pantomime
Or see something streamed at the local cinema , that could be an option! I saw SIX streamed !

Totally agree with you and as most of us do not live in London, there is the extra expense of train fares, then restaurants! So a visit to the theatre in London for 2 people will come near to £500! With all that included?
Way off affordable for me.
Think London theatres survive due to tourists, not the likes of us mere mortals😢👎

To see the pantomime at the end of the pier this Christmas is £250 for four! However will still be going as it is always good entertainment.

Even in the Great Northern City. The price of theatre tickets has been going up since before COVID .

They have easily doubled in the last three years or so and now oon par with London.

This is also for run of the mill play performances.

They put the prices up because they can. And also so they don't lose out when at attendance is low.

It's just the latest in line with many other national rackets

I agree the prices make going to the theatre out of reach. I wanted to take my mum to see Mary Poppins in Southampton last month but it would have cost around £160. I assume these prices are necessary and that seats get sold. Definitely makes it a luxury pastime, or a one off treat.

I saw a play at my local theatre the other week. It was a professional production with well known actors. I paid £47. The exact same play and same actors, this week, is at a larger theatre in a city 25 miles away. The ticket there is £80.

Visit your local amateur theatre productions - they offer so much value for money - we frequently attend shows in Bath Frome and beyond - some of the youth productions, Zenith in particular, offer youth productions worthy of West End and they are not afraid of tackling huge productions - Evita, Everyone's Talking about Jamie - hugely enjoyable, great value and support local theatres!

We've been to Symphony Hall and Birmingham Alexandra Theatre a few times in the last couple of years. Very few empty seats. Yes the tickets are expensive.

We used to have wonderful small touring theatre companies performing in our village hall. Along with our village panto that doesn’t seem to happen any more. Some of them were incredibly good. Pre pandemic we did stop going to the theatre because our local indie cinema was so much cheaper and, if we saw a rubbish film it hadn’t cost too much. Whereas the theatre was very hit and miss and we often came away disappointed. I do pay for my sons children to go to a pantomime at Christmas because I do want them to experience the theatre.

I agree, the cost of theatre tickets in London is astronomical and our local theatres are now starting to be not that far behind. We no longer go to London, which I do miss as there is something about the atmosphere in the old theatres that is lacking in the new ones. However, when you add the cost of rail travel and a meal, it gets too much.
However, The theatres still seem to be packed.
We are lucky to have two quite good theatres locally and we are taking our DGD to see Mary Poppins soon and DH has booked tickets to Miss Saigon as an anniversary present next year, can’t wait.
Still we don’t have expensive foreign holidays anymore so it’s our a way to treat ourselves.
I have noticed that London theatres sometimes offer free child places during the holidays so worth looking out for.

When I was growing up my parents couldn’t afford to take us to West End theatre but there used to be lots of amateur productions and we saw all the musicals and operettas that way. I agree about prices. My friend and I can only afford to go because she has a blue badge and gets good deals on seats. Our local amateur dramatic society is performing Made in Dagenham in the church hall next week.

Sarnia

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.

Yes, I do this too though I am travelling to London soon as I haven't been for a few years so it's nice for a treat.

I also usually wait for the West End productions to come up north as it makes for a cheaper experience and the theatres are better and more comfortable than the ancient and run down London ones.