To think the RSC are absolute robbing bastards who want to keep the children of the poor out of theatres?

[lecce]

Have just looked up the cost of going to see their production of Peter and Wendy and found no seats cheaper than £35 (and that was on its own, so unsuitable and still way too expensive). The majority I looked at were £40. So for us - a family of four- the cost would be £120 for a matinee performance. That is outrageous. For us it is not out of our reach, but far too much for us to spend on something that the children might like, but not something connected to one of their hobbies that they would be wildly excited about going to, iyswim. For many, it would be completely beyond their means.

And what the fuck is the point of having stalls, circle and upper-circle if all the seats (except for a couple on the sides) cost the bastard same?

I think it's such a shame that this type of thing restricts access to the theatre. Yes, I know there are cheaper options - there is an arts centre near us that often hosts children's productions by semi-professionals, with seats costing less than a tenner, and it's great. I just thought it would be nice to go to a 'proper' theatre, and ds1 loves history, has been reading about Shakespeare, and would love to go to a play in 'his' theatre. Gah...

[wobblyweebles]

The actors are already paid virtually nothing. How should the cost of the tickets be reduced?

[ExcuseTypos]

How old are Dc?

I know The Globe's tickets start very cheap, about £5

[ilovesooty]

It doesn't sound that expensive to me.Aren't theatre tickets in London even more expensive?

[ilovesooty]

I don't mean £35 isn't a lot of money but more that it's what I thought it would cost.

[LIZS]

Not sure where/when you are looking for but there are £14 seats , admittedly with restricted view on 1st Feb and there may well be concession for u18's. tbh we find RSC better value than most , paid £25/£10 for Richard 11 at Barbican.

[AntoinetteCosway]

The RSC do have cheap seats-they go all the way down to £5 if you'll stand, though obviously with children you'd probably not want to. I've had front row seat at Stratford for, I think, £12 or £15.

They get much more expensive when they transfer to London theatres though. I imagine the overheads are enormous.

[Itstartshere]

I think that just covers running costs. You don't make a profit in the theatre. I'm quite sure the RSc do everything possible to keep prices as low as possible. It's in their interest to attract the next generation of theatre goers.

[drbonnieblossman]

yanbu. those prices are not unreasonable by any stretch when you consider that a child ticket at the cinema is between £7 and £10.

think about how much it costs to put on a performance, and factor in that it's a business, I.e needs to make money.

[drbonnieblossman]

apologies, I meant yabu!

[ScarletLady02]

Go the The Globe if you can...I went with my school and loved it. Brilliant experience being down on the dusty floor amongst it all

[Lj8893]

YABU for all the reasons pp have already stated.

[sassytheFIRST]

We recently took a trip of sixth farmers and year 11s to Stratford to see the Tennant Richard II. they paid £20 each for ticket, coach and a visit to the Shakespeare birthplace museum - this cost was not subsidized by the school. Excellent value - and proof that the op's assertion is wrong.

[sassytheFIRST]

Lol. They were sixth fOrmers, not farmers. Thanks, iPad.

[therighttoshoes]

YABU... like you said there are plenty of cheaper alternatives available. If you go to see a professional performance you are not only paying for the venue you are also paying for the sets, costumes, special effects and salaries of the (professional) cast, Orchestra and crew.

[WillBeatJanuaryBlues]

Yes its awful, even the opera house has seats for £5 and £8 and £10 and are very very good value.

I am longing to take DD to matilda but the cheaper seats look totally crap and 65 for better seats is a return to paris

We have lots of little theatres round us, who do amazing productions, I would try and support them instead and maybe take only one child with one parent i you really want to see something.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

If you want to take the children to the Ivy it will cost you, McDonald's not so much. RSC costs because it is the best. If you want cheap theatre, as you say, there are options.

[CinderellaRockefeller]

The rsc aren't keeping the poor out of the theatre, they are hardly the only option. there are hundreds of community theatres doing work throughout the year for much cheaper ticket prices, with corresponding lower production values and less accomplished staging. Take your children to see them first, see if enjoy it.

[thepurplepenguin]

We went to see the Nutcracker a few weeks ago, English National at the Coliseum. Family of four cost £240, and that was nowhere near the 'best' seats.

[WillBeatJanuaryBlues]

The purple, we went to see nutcracker year before last at opera house for £10 a ticket and great seats.

[CinderellaRockefeller]

Mind you, I've seen a couple of shockers at the rsc over the years, it's not always guaranteed quality!

[NearTheWindmill]

I think a trip to the Globe is worth four takeaways or a family day out at a theme park tbh. If we have a reasonable supper out - Carluccio's, Cafe Rouge, etc it's £120 (teenagers) and I'd value RSC more.

[thepurplepenguin]

Much better value will!

It was lovely, but just, ow! So expensive. Thankfully not my money!

[horsetowater]

I had this conversation one evening with a group of actors, they weren't impressed. It takes a lot of money to put on a show and the demand exceeds supply.

I would agree with others to go to smaller theatres where you get a more direct experience for less money.

[lecce]

Yes, I know they advertise cheaper seats, but I could find none available and I looked at three different dates (has to be a sat mat). In fact, on all three of the dates I looked at, there was no variation in price - 3 different seating options (and the gods are very, very high in that theatre - ds2, in particular, would need to be a lot closer than that to really feel 'there') all costing the same - a lot.

Yes, I know they have overheads, and need to make a profit, but I don't feel that is a good enough answer. Someone has already pointed out that they need to attract the next generation of theatre-goers but they are not going to at that cost, are they? Most people just can't afford it. And if the actors aren't being paid much (and I know that's true) someone must be, because that is a lot of seats on a lot of dates.

sassytheFIRST I have visited as a teacher and know they do good offers for groups of students, but I don't think that proves me wrong either as most people are not in a position to take up those offers.

But yes, cinemas are much more of a rip off .

[IamInvisible]

I paid £70 a ticket for my DC to see the Arctic Monkeys. It's bands and singers that rip people off rather than theatres imo.