Going to the theatre on my own?

[IAlwaysTellTheTruthEvenWhenILie]

Is this weird? I have two small children, we have no family nearby. It's been relentless this winter with nonstop ear infections, and so many illnesses. DH and I haven't had much time for each other nor for ourselves. I'm still breastfeeding the youngest but he's 16 months old now so can go extended time periods without me.

I really want to go to the theatre. I love the theatre. Will it be very odd to go on my own, have a drink and eat some chocolate?

If I didn't do stuff like that on my own I'd never do anything or go anywhere. See also 'going on holiday alone.'

There's a thread currently about an 18 year old going off grid for a couple of months next year. Someone made a very good comment that living by yourself and liking your own company is a valuable skill to have, and that so many women seemingly can't do it and go from bad relationship to bad relationship rather than spend any time with themselves.

Go for it, OP. Have a nice dinner pre-theatre, as well.

I'm in a similar situation OP, my husband and I used to love going to the opera, ballet, theatre, anything! But since having children we have no one to look after them in the evening. So I go alone often!

I like to imagine that other people think I must be some sort of super cultured art critic who's there alone for work

@IAlwaysTellTheTruthEvenWhenILie

I've been to the cinema and theatre several times solo on my own and loved every minute of it,
Sometimes it's just too arkward also to align plan to see something with a friend cause they are working or
don't feel up to it or something crops up or they just let you down,

hardly anyone notices as the lights go down,
you are on your own,
as they are just enjoying themselves far too much watching the cinema or theatre screen

I went to a wonderful independent films festival event over several days locally i wanted to support it as not that much happens good locally where i live,

So i try and support as much anything worthwhile locally whether with friends or on my own

I go on overnights stays at quirky guest houses and hotels in London and elsewhere on my own too

Brilliant and self affirming for your well being

@IAlwaysTellTheTruthEvenWhenILie

I've gone camping 🏕 on my own too to the famous Hay book festival event last year..

First thing I do if I have to go away with work is check out what's on at the theatres.

I try to do the pre theatre dining too.

It is absolute heaven.

We got to the theatre a lot as a family as we're in between Manchester and Stoke so are very spoilt for theatre options!

Literally no one cares

hardly anyone notices as the lights go down,
you are on your own,

It matters not a jot if anyone notices! There’s nothing wrong - no stigma at all - with doing things alone.

Echoing those who say it's possible to get a great seat for one person, IIRC I paid about £12 last minute for a fantastic seat on the dress circle for To Kill A Mockingbird in the west end during a work trip last year.

Recommend seeing Standing at the Sky's Edge. It's a new rather than a classic musical and it's amazing. You'll be so engrossed in it you'll completely forget you're on your own. Enjoy!

Definitely not weird although it might feel weird the first time you do it.

Go, enjoy, and then go again and you'll enjoy it even more.

Exactly @CheeseWisely you may be able to get excellent tickets because theatres struggle to sell individual tickets in between bigger block bookings. Have been to classical music concerts , jazz concerts and operas by myself. Sounds like you need a bit of fun (and a proper sleep!)

If you have never done things alone then it does feel odd, the more you do it, go out to eat, theatre, cinema the more you see it as a non-event.

If you feel self conscious remember noone else knows (or cares) that you are alone. You could be with others with last minute tickets and sat separately, you could be squeezing in a show on a work trip, you could be getting some child free time. You could be killing time waiting for a later train etc etc. Only you know why you are there. Get your self a drink and a programme to flick through if you are worried but most people are on their phones until the curtain goes up anyway.

Then next month head to the cinema alone, this evening less self conscious nowadays as you pick up your tickets at the machine. Carving out time to be a adult either with or without your partner is important.

Heavens! Go! I'm recently divorced and have few friends so I tend to go to places by myself and actually prefer it! Have a lovely time!

I do it quite a lot during school hours. It's why I love being a sahm! Sometimes I feel a bit self conscious during an interval as I have no one to chat to, but a loo break and checking my phone usually fills the time.

What did you book in the end?

I always go on my own and click on a rush ticket (great value and usually amazing seats) via Today Tix.

Am planning to go this week again on my own. Went to see a show last week and we were all singletons booked on Rush tickets, highly amusing!

Since I recently stopped working for a bit, I have booked matinee performances of things I wanted to see and DH didn't - for instance Player Kings. I'm also going to see Toyah on my own - front row in the middle!

Moving forward start training the DC on theatre etiquette early, Northern Ballet do some fab short ballets for tots, and Milkshake / CBeebies shows. Not Pantos - many little ones don't like the booing and finding them quite scary better for 6 years+.

DD moved onto full musicals at 4 years and loved Matilda, She's a teen now and its now 'our' thing and she's developed a love for Shakespeare, dramas and improv shows and we get some good quality time in at least once a month at the theatre.

We are fortunate to have a good regional that that gets big touring shows and tickets are a fraction of the price in London. With a £25 Friends membership the tickets are even cheaper and often 50% offo the first night.

As they get older Kids Week is great, it's not a week rather the whole of August where you get 1 free child's ticket for each adult one. Tickets g o sale around June.

I'm going to see David Sedaris on my own in a couple of months - nobody I know has even heard of him!

Equal measures of nervous & looking forward to it!

An Evening with David Sedaris - The Bridgewater Hall - Tuesday 9 July 2024 | MyTicket.co.uk

Enjoy whatever you go to see x

Why nervous, @HCHQ?

(The Bridgewater Hall is a nice venue! Not so keen on the act you’re going to see.)

Not weird at all. I do it all the time

I’m not into theatre at all and have no idea if people usually go on their own or not, but I would still say go! You’ll either like it or you won’t but at least you won’t be wondering about whether you should have gone.

Plus it’s kind of liberating to build up the confidence to do things on your own, you don’t have to miss out if nobody is free to go with you.

Waitress the musical is showing in cinemas on 20th June. I’m suggesting it because it’s a great musical, saw it in the west end just before it closed, and may be less intimidating than going to the theatre alone.