West End theatre - can some please explain?

[cherrypiepie]

I've been several times to west end theatre year late ago maybe 2010-2014 (so not in the dark ages)

At that time I bought some tickets from a random 3rd party stall and some tickets booked online and some booked in the day from the box office. They were dear but not extortionate maybe (£50 each)

I seem to remember that if a show has only just opened it is impossible to get discounted tickets and that it will be expensive? Is that correct?

I'd like to see Back to the Future (no idea what the reviews are like - I'm not really bothered as it's one of the few dh would see although I would check it's not been panned before I bought)

The cheapest seats are 19.75 but there are in the gods and I did that once and regretted it (couldn't see and too steep). Then the next ones are 39.50 and I still wouldn't want these. Looking at £89 for a reasonable seat and even then threatened monkey says not suitable for tall people dh near 6ft might not cope)

What shows can I get reasonably priced tickets for? Not in the gods, and aisle seat and not cramped for a. 6 footer!

£89 is mot expensive for the west west these days I'm afraid.

I have been trying to get dd tickets to Harry Potter @ £600 each for tickets in the stalls or Lion King @ £200 each for a half decent seat

I get they are popular and trying to recoup the incredible losses from covid etc but it is pricing most people out of the theatre.

I would try non weekend days and not around popular holidays for cheaper tickets. Good luck finding something!

I usually use TodayTix app- I’ve got some great deals off that over the years.

Threatened monkey - this really made me laugh.

Some of the shows have lotteries where you can pay £20 ish for top price tickets, you apply via email.

I got hairspray tickets same day for about 40% off.

There also a daily seats thing but think you have to be very quick off the mark. If you join the families who love theatre FB page they often have really good advice in what seats are restricted but offer great views - eg dress circle slips for Mary popping a were £40 ish but fantastic for the price.

Also look on theatre monkey seat plans as they grade according to value for money.

Back to the Future is expensive at the moment. I’m looking for December.

Discounted tickets via places like TodayTix are usually available for shows that haven’t sold very well. Dd got a great price for Prince of Egypt for example.

The London theatre New Year Sale starts soon. officiallondontheatre.com/new-year-sale/

Or you can enter the lottery. We were in London a couple of years ago to watch the matinee of Dear Evan Hansen and decided last minute to try for another show in the evening. We got Wicked Daily Dozen tickets on TodayTix for £20

Front row upper dress circle are pretty good seats and are £54 for Back to the Future. Hope you get to go

I can’t help with the price but if you look at a seat review website (there are a few but eg seatplan) you can see whether the view is actually bad from the cheaper seats and reviews will mention leg room etc. it varies heavily by theatre.

If you're worried about comfort, all the old theatres are cramped.

You could see what's on at the newer ones (the National or the Bridge for instance), where leg room is far more generous!

My tips are:

Popular shows that are going to run a while wait for the hype to die down and tickets will get cheaper.

Go on a weekday, particularly early in the week.

Sign up to mailing lists eg lovetheatre TodayTix

Don’t assume that all theatres cheap tickets are the same. Check what the actual view is like at that particular theatre. Some theatres I wouldn’t want to get the cheap tickets at, some I would always get the cheap option as you still get a great view and it’s a wonderful money saver.

Compare theatre tickets website collates all the tix agencies and gives you a rundown of the availability and difference in prices.

(A quick check for midweek tickets for BTTF for e.g. has £48 tickets in the stalls on Weds.)

I've used this site before and it is legit.

(Those are aisle seats too - my fave!)

Have you got a link?

I went to see phantom of the opera recently. Seat was 30 in the stalls with a day ticket released at 10am for the same day. I only wanted one ticket but had a free day.

The Gillian Lynne Theatre is very comfortable - I think Cinderella is on there at the moment.

Just for info OP I took DD13 to see BTTF and we left in the interval as it was so hammy.

BUT all the corny jokes were being guffawed at by middle aged men so if your DH fits this category I'd say its worth paying the price!

We always go in the gods as DD is musical theatre obsessed so we see at least 6 shows a year.

Keep an eye out for what's coming out in the new year and get tix when first on sale for the best option, or today tix is great as per PP.

We (17 year old DS) and I saw BTTF the week it opened. It was amazing. Yes the jokes were corny, but they are in the movies too.
We had the cheap seats in the God's and they were fine. (Unlike Phantom where you can't see the whole stage).

You can google seating plans of certain theatres to see reviews of the seats and even photos of your view of the stage. We are seeing The Cursed Child soon, purchased through Today Tix, they were £20 each each part so £80 total. The seats are in the Grand Circle, and these particular ones have a ‘good’ view rating. One is an aisle seat.

Hi OP,

I was actually at the back to future musical last night. Upper circle, right at the end, 3rd row back

You could see everything absolutely fine. The only thing I’d say is that the seats riiiiiiiight at the edges maybe cut off a tiny tiny portion of stage, but not worth worrying about. But certainly upper circle at the Aldelphi is absolutely fine

Ps. Musical was great. Well, the songs I could take or leave, I actually think it would work better as a play. But the set was astounding - and right at the end - you’ll know it when you see it - was just WOW.
The entire audience was trying to work out how they did it!

£89 isn't expensive for the west end. We paid £100 each for Only Fools and Horses not great seats.

And about £140 each for Book of Mormon (worth every penny).

I always have brilliant seats from Central Tickets and Showflimfirst .You need to register, it's free to register and then you get seats for nothing or between £2.50-£6.50 otherwise highly discounted! Movies, shows, theatre music concerts etc!!!
I have seen Queen Anne (free) Pride and Prejudice (free) live jazz , all west end theatres and music venues! Just saw King Richard flim for £0 was excellent and Julian Lage at Cadogan Hall
Try it, it's a brilliant, the idea is to seat filling as they don't want empty seats.

Threatened Monkey

Honestly I pay £90 a seat now and sit right at the front. It's a completely different experience. I found £40 odd to sit miles away was just a false expense.

My son went to see Back to the Future with a friend who had been given the tickets , they sat in the second row of the circle , the view was fine and he had enough leg room ( he’s 6’3” ) . He said the show was ok , his friend is a big fan of the movie and thought it was fabulous .

You could see what's on at the newer ones (the National or the Bridge for instance), where leg room is far more generous!

It's not about comfort. It's about the price of seats specifically for Back To The Future - the show OP wants to see. Not something random at another theatre.

@Trinidading3

I always have brilliant seats from Central Tickets and Showflimfirst .You need to register, it's free to register and then you get seats for nothing or between £2.50-£6.50 otherwise highly discounted! Movies, shows, theatre music concerts etc!!! I have seen Queen Anne (free) Pride and Prejudice (free) live jazz , all west end theatres and music venues! Just saw King Richard flim for £0 was excellent and Julian Lage at Cadogan Hall Try it, it's a brilliant, the idea is to seat filling as they don't want empty seats.

Are you meant to be sharing that........!

the website is comparetheatretickets.com. It's just a comparison site but it finds some good deals.

I also use Central tickets but I find they are best for off-beat or slightly alternative shows. Not many discounts for mainstream stuff. Also it is often last minute and if you don't turn up after booking a ticket they rescind your 'membership'.

(Plus, the first rule of Central tickets is that you don't talk about central tickets!)