Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

West End Theatre's

29 replies

lunaswand · 30/06/2025 12:52

DH & I went to the theatre on Saturday to see HP & The Cursed Child, the performance was good but completely ruined by the horrendous heat in the theatre. It was so hot people were using anything as fans, DH fashioned one out of a Malteser box.
During the interval we enquired about the air conditioning only to be told there wasn't any!

I'm so annoyed as it completely ruined the day - are all London theatre's like this because they are old buildings?
Am I being unreasonable to expect to not have to sit wafting my t-shirt throughout the performance so I don't pass out from the heat when we have paid almost £400 to see a performance we've been looking forward to for so long?

OP posts:
ExtraOnions · 30/06/2025 13:08

I went to one in similarly conditions a few years back. The theatre were giving out free iced water, which was great.
A solution would be great .. air/con won’t be happening to old theatres for lots of reasons .. by better fans & airflow would be a start

MakeItToTheMoon · 30/06/2025 13:06

I do remember this happened when we went to see Wicked. It was soooo hot! It just took away from the enjoyment of the show as everyone was melting,

Comefromaway · 30/06/2025 13:04

Yes, a lot don't have air conditioning because they are listed buildings. My daughter used to work in one. It's hard for the staff and performers too.

Some do have an air cooling system though.

RedBeech · 30/06/2025 12:54

I was just wondering about this. We have tickets for a West end show later in the week, for all the family, so it cost £££. It's a long show so I will be very pissed off if it gets too hot to enjoy the performance. They could install temporary air con, even if it is only on before the show and in the intervals.