I'm going to miss the show argh

[LouXx12]

I've booked an afternoon tea and a show in London for tomorrow, the afternoon tea is at 12.30 and the show is at 2.30. The afternoon tea finishes at 2 so I thought that gives us half an hour to get to the theatre which is apparently a 3 min walk. I've just checked the website and it says doors for the theatre open 90 mins before curtains up and we should aim to be there at least 45 mins before curtains up, which would mean getting to the theatre for 1.45 which means afternoon tea will be a bit of a rush. When I booked the afternoon tea it specifically says book this time tea if you are seeing the matinee( 12.30) and this time for the evening show, so why would they advertise set times if you are going to be late?now im panicking if we are late we wont be let in.

You’ll be fine. If you get to the theatre at 2:05 they’d be mad not to let you in for a show that starts at 2:30! Or is it cabaret where the before show preamble is part of it!

You will be fine. It says 45 minutes to allow for people to collect tickets, buy confectionery, use the loo and find their seats. Curtains up will be 2:30 so as long as you are there by 2:15 you’ll be ok.

45 minutes seems excessive. I’ve never arrived that early even for a sell out show like Chicago on NYE. Getting there just after 2 won’t prevent you getting seated

It's wicked, I think the theatre is literally across the road from where we are having afternoon tea so I thought if we left the tea at 2 we would be fine, we went to see matilda in London on the same day as pride one year and couldn't get through London so just got there in the nick of time and they let us in, but wicked seem to be more strict

You will be absolutely fine.

It'll be fine. You can get there pretty much any time before the 5 min curtain call

You’re going to be absolutely fine. They’re just trying to stop people cutting it fine and ending up late. Enjoy!

Will be fine. Although the theatre opens early you will be admitted up until the curtains up ( and even then they often have suitable breaks they can let you in at!) enjoy it

Tbh I think those messages are a hangover from Covid. I go to the theatre in London at least twice a month and never arrive more than 15 minutes before curtain up.

You will be fine. They just don’t want everyone showing up 15 minutes before the show starts, as they want a steady stream of people coming in and getting to their seats. Just don’t dilly dally at the afternoon tea. Finish and get over so you can get into your seats before it starts in case a lot of people
are doing similar.

I have no idea why the theatre would ask you to get there 45 mins in advance for a seated, ticketed show. I used to work for ATG who own Apollo Victoria and have never heard of this. I've also just had a quick look at the website and can't find anything. They even ask wheelchair patrons who need lifts etc. to AIM to arrive 30-45 mins in advance. Are you looking at some third-party website?

There's no need to get there that early.

When we saw Wicked we arrived at the time they told us to and then there were hundreds of people crammed into the lobby as they didn't open the doors for ages afterwards.

Yeh I agree with everyone, there won't be any problem. I go to the theatre often in London and elsewhere, and we never get there as much as 45 mins before curtain up. More like 15 mins tbh.

This is what it says on the website re What time should I arrive:

Doors open to ticket holders from 90 minutes prior to performance times.
Please arrive promptly as latecomers cannot be admitted until a designated point in the performance, which is approximately 25 minutes after curtain-up. No refunds or exchanges are provided to late arriving patrons.
Large groups (10+) are required to arrive no later than 30 minutes prior to the start time, using the Vauxhall Bridge Road entrance

ETA I hope it's not actually tomorrow @LouXx12 as the matinee is on Weds, not Tuesday.

The website says:

What time should I arrive at the theatre?

Doors open to ticket holders from 90 minutes prior to performance times.
Please arrive promptly as latecomers cannot be admitted until a designated point in the performance, which is approximately 25 minutes after curtain-up. No refunds or exchanges are provided to late arriving patrons.
Large groups (10+) are required to arrive no later than 30 minutes prior to the start time, using the Vauxhall Bridge Road entrance

So they open 90 minutes prior to performance but no one is saying you need to be there then! They have a 30-minute rule for larger groups (10+) to avoid disruption for other patrons, but I doubt this applies to you?

Are you just not reading the website properly for The Apollo perhaps? Also from what I can see there are no matinees on Tuesdays - only Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. You've said you're going tomorrow?

Op you will be absolutely fine!!! We usually arrive with minutes to spare.

I think the guidelines take into account people who may have slow mobility and are in the cheap seats - Eg. Where we sit in the palladium is the cheap seats entrance with a lot of stairs.

I've just looked again and you're right it doesnt say that anywhere, I've definitely read it somewhere 🙈 panic over

So when you say tomorrow @LouXx12 you mean Weds, yes?

I think you'll be fine. I am in the middle of GCSE exams and we always say arrive between 8.30-9 for a 9.30 exam. It's not because we won't let anyone in after 9, it's because if 80 students turned up at 9.25 there's no way most of them would be toileted, have their bags away and be in their seats at 9.30. In practice though if someone has a tricky journey and their morning goes wrong, we won't actually say "you can't do the exam as you arrived at 9.25". Same thing for the theatre, they wouldn't cope if a whole theatre's worth turn up 5 mins before the show started, but one or two familes will be ok.

What website did you read it on?

You won't be late. This is partly a hangover from post-Covid, when theatres had to open earlier to check whatever crap paperwork we needed then.
Mainly it's a way to encourage people in early to spend money in the bar and on merch.
I like to be early at the theatre, but if you're there by 2.20pm for a 2.30 curtain up, you'll be fine.

Thats literally bonkers who wants to sit in a boiling theatre for 45mins. I wouldn't be getting there any earlier than 2:15

What a treat! It will be fine, hope you have a lovely time

They won't be sitting in the boiling theatre seats, they'll be standing in the bar necking gin & tonic with half a pound of ice.

Theatres want you there nice and early so you spend more money in the bar.

I’ve seen wicked too many times. You will be fine, as long as you’re there 10 mins before the start you’ll be absolutely fine!