To think this theatre is being UR re cancelled show

[theduchessstill]

We had tickets to see Les Miserables in a regional theatre in May. Obviously it was cancelled and I had an email to say I would receive a credit voucher with priority booking for when the show starts touring again. They said if I wasn't happy with that I could have a refund, but as I want theatres to survive this I was happy to go along with the former offer, knowing that it would be a long time before the show would come back and the whole thing is so uncertain anyway.

I have now received my voucher and priority booking is taking place for spring 2022. However, when I went online to book my tickets it seems that to get the same seats I will need to pay an extra £75 to get the same seats or just use the voucher total to get worse seats. There was previously a small discount for the two dc coming with me but that no longer exists and all the prices have gone up.

AIBU to think this is a bit off? I think it would be a bit better if the covering email mentioned the need to put prices up and end concessions but it doesn't so it's a bit of a nasty shock when you go through the process. On the one hand I'm not sure I want to pay out £75 for something that may or may not happen in 2 years, and on the other hand I really want to support the theatre. What would you do?

I would contact them. You are being reasonable by lending them your money for the next year or so, with all the risks that it entails. They should be reasonable and honour the booking. If they didn't I ask for a refund.

I had tickets booked for Les Mis in Cardiff - we were supposed to be going this month. The theatre offered me a refund or new tickets. I opted for the tickets, they are for the same seats , same weekday I should have been going at the same cost.

I had the same issue, tickets booked for a regional theatre in June. The show was absolutely cancelled and I was given the option of a refund or donating the money to the theatres arts charity. I opted for the refund then got an email that stated the show would go on next year instead and my tickets would be valid for that show, same date time and seats, no extra charge. I would definitely have a word with the company. £75 is a lot of money on top of what you’ve already paid

Are you looking booking the same days? Sometimes the matinees have concession prices if they are in term time whereas the evening shows don't. Week day evenings are also often cheaper than the Friday/Saturday evenings.

I'd ask for my money back, and then rebook nearer the date

If it’s for the equivalent performance day/time etc then I wouldn’t be happy and would ask for a refund.

We had Les Mis tickets and knowing it may be hard to rearrange got a refund from the Lowry which was very simple thankfully. But for those who where able to move the tickets over then good will would say for equivalent performance to just transfer the ticket

We also had Les Miserable booked for September. Obviously that isn’t going ahead so our theatre just did a straight swap, same seats (no refund, no rebooking) for the same weekend next year. I’m ok with that as, like you, I want to support them to stay open but if they’d asked me to rebook and it was more money I don’t think I would have gone ahead, they were expensive enough tbh.

Theatres are really struggling, and I think it's entirely fair that they change their pricing structure for future shows to help secure their future

BUT you should not be penalised. You should be able to get the same kind of seats at the same kind of day/time (eg Tuesdays are often cheaper than Fridays) as what you originally paid for.

If they can't offer you 'like for like', they should give you your money back. In my opinion. Not sure of the legalities.

treeee you're right - I've booked a different time because it was a weeknight evening in May halft-term, but the new dates don't coincide with a school holiday and as it's a 90 minute + drive I don't want to go on a week night. Damn. Not the theatre's fault, but I don't know what to do now. Will probably have the cheaper seats .

YAB a little bit U. They're doing what they promised, allowing you to use the cash value of your previous purchase against a future one. I would think it reasonable to expect that prices will go up every year, so in two years they would be higher.

But you can still demand a refund because they're offer isn't acceptable to you.

We had tickets for a london theatre, we just got given the same seats exactly a year later.

I'd ask for a refund. Most (all?) theatres are going to bankrupt by this time next year, the show you've booked for won't be happening. Give it a couple of years, theatres will all be mysteriously bought for tuppence by Tory donors and knocked down to build luxury flats.

Is there something else you may want to see and then see Les Mis at another theatre etc in due course?

I had tickets to quite a few shows this year, I’ve either had a refund or been automatically booked onto the same seat, equivalent performance if they’ve been rearranged.

But from your update if you’re looking for a different performance it’s reasonable that prices may be different, especially for a show as hugely popular as Les Mis. I would go for the cheaper seats on the day you want. Is there any in between ones where you could pay a bit extra but not the whole £75 extra?

I saw Les Mis from the far side of the upper circle last year and still enjoyed it, so it’s still worth seeing regardless, but I appreciate its disappointing not to have the seats you originally chose