Can you watch school plays, concerts?

[Theatregogetter]

...if you don't have a child at the school?

I'd like to take my daughters to see plays and concerts, but it seems OTT to travel into the city and book some world-class professional production at great expense. I'd rather they see older kids like them, and see it as something normal they could be part of too (as they continue their schooling). I feel like a decent secondary school production would be just as entertaining, in its own way.

I remember when I was growing up, my high school drama society would advertise tickets and presumably local people went along (as well as parents). Is this still a thing? If so, how do you find out what's on? There are loads of secondary schools near us as we live in a densely populated area, but I haven't noticed them advertising tickets.

At DT’s school all productions were open to parents and their families only. There was always more demand for tickets than space available.

I live in London and they can barely fit one parent per child in the school hall. They end up doing at least 2 productions, so I'd say the answer would be pretty much no.

But that's what local theatre is for OP. Just Google what's on.

Some schools do open up shows to the public.
I took my daughter to see a performance of Little Shop of Horrors by a local secondary school at Woking. It was performed in the local theatre and anyone could buy tickets.
It was brilliant. The children were incredibly talented.

Look on their websites.
But to be honest space is usually extremely tight with even the kids taking part only being allowed a couple of tickets. That's probably why they don't advertise beyond the school network. I would feel guilty taking seats if it meant the family of a participant was unable to see their child performing.
There are probably some amazing dram groups that you could go and watch.

Definitely at secondary you can. I did this when my dc were little too.

My dd was involved in a play at her sixth form in November and they had loads of spare tickets. It was Bugsy Malone but not all secondary and sixth form stuff would be suitable for young children.

Tickets at primary school they are like gold dust.

Do you know anyone with links to your local secondary schools?

Also, local drama clubs and theatre groups for children. I just went to see Annie with my dd as one of her friends was in it. All of the cast were children. Maybe you could find some groups on social media.

Thanks all!

Yes, it was just secondary I had in mind - much as I love seeing my own children in primary school shows, I'm not looking to crash another school's Y1 Nativity 😅

Hadn't even realised space was a constraint! I think I'll try and suss out which schools are big on performing arts and see what their websites say. (I don't especially know anyone connected with a secondary school round here). And good shout about local drama clubs, and indeed local theatre.