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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the price of tickets for theatre are insane

363 replies

Chopbob · 19/02/2022 18:39

I was looking to booking Beauty and the beast on stage in Manchester for my dd birthday, but omg-how expensive!!!!!
Whilst they offer a very small number of tickets for £20 each (a tiny number, all restricted views) the tickets start around £40 each and go up to £100. For a children's show. In Manchester.
A family of 4 would be looking at £160-£400 for one, single kids show.
AIBU to think this is completely insane? Or am I completely out of touch?

OP posts:
CeeceeBloomingdale · 19/02/2022 18:59

@KatieKat88

It's a proper musical, not a kids' show. Big cast and production - it must cost a lot to put on. We went to see it in Liverpool and it was worth it, so good!
I meant to say this too, it’s not a kids show as such although some kids go. Lots of adults go without kids and lots of kids shouldn’t have been there due to the noise they made. It’s not like Disney on Ice which is geared to children, this is a musical that some children might like.
FAQs · 19/02/2022 19:00

I went to a show a couple of weeks ago and the actors shouted hello to you in the cheap seats, the cheap seats were in the tier and cost £60 plus booking fee, each! Only slightly more for the floor but they’d sold out.

throughtheair · 19/02/2022 19:01

Oh another tip - physically speak to box offices about seating and what they can do for you on a budget, rather than just looking online. We had seating which wasn't available online because we needed to explain about restricted views, access etc - it wouldn't have necessarily been for everybody but definitely enabled people to see shows for far cheaper.

ItsJustASimpleLine · 19/02/2022 19:01

See if there's a relaxed performance the tickets are usually cheaper.

museumum · 19/02/2022 19:01

Thats what theatre costs I’m afraid - nobody (except Disney if it’s one of theirs) is raking it in. Actors, technicians and venues are barely scraping by.

MythicalBiologicalFennel · 19/02/2022 19:02

Yanbu those are crazy prices. DD and I went to the opera recently for a fraction of the prices you quote - and opera has a reputation for being elitist...

Invasionofthegutsnatchers · 19/02/2022 19:04

OP look at smaller theatres near you. There could be amazing shows at a fraction of the price.

AskingforaBaskin · 19/02/2022 19:05

They may cost a lot to put on but let's not pretend they aren't making an absolute mint in profit. It's extortionate.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 19/02/2022 19:05

I can understand why tickets are expensive, when you look at the cost of production. But I can't justify paying those prices and, tbh, going to the theatre is an easy thing to give up.

I used to go loads when you could get a docent ticket for £20 or a ticket in the gods for £10, and I enjoyed it. But for £50+ a head...no.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 19/02/2022 19:06

They may cost a lot to put on but let's not pretend they aren't making an absolute mint in profit. It's extortionate.

Most shows definitely don't make a mint. At all.

intothedark · 19/02/2022 19:07

I use an app called today tix have had some real good deals worth taking a look at

mummykel16 · 19/02/2022 19:12

@Chopbob

I was looking to booking Beauty and the beast on stage in Manchester for my dd birthday, but omg-how expensive!!!!! Whilst they offer a very small number of tickets for £20 each (a tiny number, all restricted views) the tickets start around £40 each and go up to £100. For a children's show. In Manchester. A family of 4 would be looking at £160-£400 for one, single kids show. AIBU to think this is completely insane? Or am I completely out of touch?
I often think the same
tokyo1 · 19/02/2022 19:12

Yes it's expensive but I love going to the theatre. We don't go often, maybe for a birthday and usually that'll be the gift as it's so expensive. We last watched the life of pi which was amazing. I've been wanting to watch the Harry Potter show for ages but I just can justify the price it's extortionate Blush they do lotteries for discounted tickets but I never seem to win. Sigh.

StillRowing · 19/02/2022 19:12

Birmingham are having a relaxed performance at 1:30pm on a Tuesday. Most expensive tickets are £35. Cheapest are £20. I’m taking my class as lots haven’t been to the theatre. School are contributing so we’re asking parents for £15 each

AuntyBumBum · 19/02/2022 19:13

@TheYearOfSmallThings

They may cost a lot to put on but let's not pretend they aren't making an absolute mint in profit. It's extortionate.

Most shows definitely don't make a mint. At all.

They barely break even, theatre is in a terrible state financially.

But so what if they were making billions? They're businesses, they have a highly desirable product and they're playing to full houses. They have no more duty to make themselves financially accessible than Claridges hotel or Louis Vuitton Grin

iklboo · 19/02/2022 19:14

I'm not familiar with Manchester but I would imagine there are a few small community style theatres or companies which will put on kids theatre for a far more reasonable price.

We have:

The Opera House
The Palace Theatre
The Royal Exchange
The Lowry

They put the same kind of big shows as London.

Sadly not many of the community style theatres doing shows specifically for kids, apart from pantos.

Heytheredemons · 19/02/2022 19:16

Do you not feel the actors, acresses, stage hands, theatre assistances, etc. deserve to be paid a reasonable wage. Should they work for free to enetertsin you. The minimum wage is very generous in this country and unfortunately to enable that everything has to go up to accommodate the costs involved.

astoundedgoat · 19/02/2022 19:16

I don't know... in the 90's I remember theatre tickets being about £20 for a smallish theatre I used to go to a lot, which is £43 today, and I would definitely have been buying the cheapest tickets.

Prices have gone up a lot since we all started going to the theatre!

lap90 · 19/02/2022 19:16

They are more affordable than ever IMO with the likes of deals offered by today tix and lotteries that shows/theatres offer these days. Although yeah, for a family of 4 can get pricey.

StillRowing · 19/02/2022 19:16

@tokyo1

Yes it's expensive but I love going to the theatre. We don't go often, maybe for a birthday and usually that'll be the gift as it's so expensive. We last watched the life of pi which was amazing. I've been wanting to watch the Harry Potter show for ages but I just can justify the price it's extortionate Blush they do lotteries for discounted tickets but I never seem to win. Sigh.
Cursed Child is amazing! I’m seeing it for the second time in April!
CuteOrangeElephant · 19/02/2022 19:20

I committed to going to that show thinking it was going to be 40 quid a ticket but it's actually 80 Shock . Can't pull out of it now either.

In my local (European) theatre they are also running Beauty and the Beast and tickets there are 24,50 (euro) for ok seats.

throughtheair · 19/02/2022 19:21

@iklboo

Here's an interesting looking one, looks like they have some lovely affordable children's shows

www.z-arts.org/see-whats-on/?category=childrens-shows#whats-on

That was after a quick Google and I'd bet there's other places in the area.

throughtheair · 19/02/2022 19:22

Stuff and Nonsense who are doing the Gingerbread Man there are AMAZING btw.

mummykel16 · 19/02/2022 19:23

Wonder what they would cost without all the subsidies they get

DdraigGoch · 19/02/2022 19:23

@MythicalBiologicalFennel

Yanbu those are crazy prices. DD and I went to the opera recently for a fraction of the prices you quote - and opera has a reputation for being elitist...
They really want to introduce opera to a new generation so there are often discounted (or even free) seats for those below a certain age. The ENO have an under 35s promotion and offer free tickets to under 20s.