In 1975, I saw my first show in London (Judi Dench and John Mills in 'The Good Companions'), having persuaded mum to let her starstruck 16 year-old travel alone.
I paid £5 for the ticket and - I'm not joking - under £10 for a deal that included return rail from Manchester and a night in a hotel. And for a fiver, I was not at the back of the gods but in a top price seat - and it as one of the most expensive shows in town. And the hotel was touristy, but OK.
That's a total of £15. If prices had kept up with inflation, that would probably be around £65 - 75. But that amount would only get you a seat behind a pillar at the back of a West End theatre.
OK, so probably the low price reflected that many of the staff - particularly in hotels - were on low pay, and the increased use of technology may have added to the cost of putting on a show, but that much? Seriously? I think the mickey is being taken somewhere.
I still go into the West End occasionally, but generally only if I find a cheap deal somewhere. The Bridge, the Donmar, Hampstead, the Menier and the National all manage cheaper tickets and better sightlines.
And £10 to get in before everybody else - who are they kidding? Now if it was £10 to get *out* before everybody else, I might consider it. I grew a beard in the time it look me to leave the Haymarket the other week.
Ah…I sense a strong feeling of déjà vu, Rosie…ha-ha!
Fast tracks are the tenth circle Dante missed…but only because the bean counters had not yet invented them when he was scribbling his masterpiece. A complete and utter racket.
Within the context I was pleasantly surprised at the price of tickets last week at the Coliseum. (For the Great Gatsby which we really enjoyed - packed, appreciative audience)
And it ends up like the Ryanair fast track where you all end up randomly squashed on the same bus to the far edge of the airport when "those who were last shall be first" and non fast track people get on the plane before fast track. I love it when that happens!
Alternatively you register on one of the seat-filling sites, since, surprise surprise, these over-priced West End shows often don't sell.out, and pay human-level prices. Or if course go off-West End for often better productions.
if everyone pays the £10 to jump the Queue then what - haha an idea pay £100 to go in via the stage door and see the actors in their underwear - brilliant piece thank you for highlighting y
It’s so expensive! As a student many years ago I saw so much good theatre - it was affordable for me then. As a fairly well off pensioner theatre is a luxury I very rarely indulge in
Ruth Valentine in this Comments section has suggested Central Tickets, this is a site selling tickets for shows which aren't totally sold out, they have good discounts apparently. Might be worth checking out.
Any excuse for my regular rant!
In 1975, I saw my first show in London (Judi Dench and John Mills in 'The Good Companions'), having persuaded mum to let her starstruck 16 year-old travel alone.
I paid £5 for the ticket and - I'm not joking - under £10 for a deal that included return rail from Manchester and a night in a hotel. And for a fiver, I was not at the back of the gods but in a top price seat - and it as one of the most expensive shows in town. And the hotel was touristy, but OK.
That's a total of £15. If prices had kept up with inflation, that would probably be around £65 - 75. But that amount would only get you a seat behind a pillar at the back of a West End theatre.
OK, so probably the low price reflected that many of the staff - particularly in hotels - were on low pay, and the increased use of technology may have added to the cost of putting on a show, but that much? Seriously? I think the mickey is being taken somewhere.
I still go into the West End occasionally, but generally only if I find a cheap deal somewhere. The Bridge, the Donmar, Hampstead, the Menier and the National all manage cheaper tickets and better sightlines.
And £10 to get in before everybody else - who are they kidding? Now if it was £10 to get *out* before everybody else, I might consider it. I grew a beard in the time it look me to leave the Haymarket the other week.
Ah…I sense a strong feeling of déjà vu, Rosie…ha-ha!
Fast tracks are the tenth circle Dante missed…but only because the bean counters had not yet invented them when he was scribbling his masterpiece. A complete and utter racket.
And a noisy one too, as rackets can be. All those people eating popcorn in a 90 minute straight through play. Why do they need to eat? MADDENING
Popcorn…Dante’s 11th etc…!
Within the context I was pleasantly surprised at the price of tickets last week at the Coliseum. (For the Great Gatsby which we really enjoyed - packed, appreciative audience)
And it ends up like the Ryanair fast track where you all end up randomly squashed on the same bus to the far edge of the airport when "those who were last shall be first" and non fast track people get on the plane before fast track. I love it when that happens!
Tee hee! Great comment
Alternatively you register on one of the seat-filling sites, since, surprise surprise, these over-priced West End shows often don't sell.out, and pay human-level prices. Or if course go off-West End for often better productions.
I didn't know about those sites! Thanks for the comment Ruth!
I used Central Tickets.
Great intel Ruth
if everyone pays the £10 to jump the Queue then what - haha an idea pay £100 to go in via the stage door and see the actors in their underwear - brilliant piece thank you for highlighting y
Masterstroke! It could just happen.
Surely not related to the private equity firm that owns ATG, motivated by finer aims than greed for money!
I couldn't possibly comment, but thanks for yours!
It’s so expensive! As a student many years ago I saw so much good theatre - it was affordable for me then. As a fairly well off pensioner theatre is a luxury I very rarely indulge in
Ruth Valentine in this Comments section has suggested Central Tickets, this is a site selling tickets for shows which aren't totally sold out, they have good discounts apparently. Might be worth checking out.
Thank you I’ll take a look
Exactly. It's so shortsighted as it is a huge disincentive. Thanks for this comment.