If what you’re looking for from Theatre is two hours of big-name, non-stop live spectacle, like full costume with several changes for the main characters, large cast plus live orchestra, full lighting and set, again with changes, and the kind of choreography that takes months to rehearse, then that’s just how much it costs. I wish the performers were paid in line with their talent but sadly, that’s not the reason the tickets are pricey - it’s the sheer amount of time, equipment, people and overheads involved!
To the poster who suggested £17 for an outdoor performance with no seating was extortionate, please remember that you are expecting this performance, if it’s at night, to be lit with hired equipment, probably sound-teched if there is any music or sound effects at all, costumed with hired costumes, the venue to have been hired by the company (think what you’d pay for that kind of venue for one day if you wanted your wedding there…), all staging and equipment to have been hired, transported and set up, everyone and everything to be insured, and for the performers to have spent weeks in rehearsal. Imagine that one ticket pays one actor to rehearse for an hour and a half, and you start to see why they can’t be cheaper.
Having said that, it is definitely important that ‘theatre’ as a whole is accessible for those who have budgets to consider. So here are my top 5 ways to see it for less:
1: Definitely look at local community theatre, or just smaller, but professionally-produced, plays. You might find you get a taste for non-musical performances that just story-tell really well with a more pared-down production.
2: If you know someone whose kids go to a local secondary school, see what they’ve got on. Secondary shows are better and better these days, as teachers usually have Drama degrees and experience directing, so you could get a high-quality experience for very little
3: Some incredible London theatre is available on screen on National Theatre At Home, and you can rent individual shows for about £7 (which would cover the whole family) or pay £9.99 a month to see as many as you like
4: Before they go on NT at home, a lot of London shows are broadcast to cinemas and can be seen for about £15 a ticket
5: If you are able to get to London, look at Travelex tickets at the National Theatre, standing tickets at the Globe, and Fringe theatre productions, which are often cheaper because writers, directors and performers are building their career, so a small loss is still a worthwhile investment.
I hope that’s been useful to someone somewhere!