Going to the theatre by myself

[AmIALoser]

Can I go to the theatre by myself?

there is a show that I really want to see which has mostly sold out. The only few seats available are single seats so I’d have to go by myself.

Will I look weird/be judged?

Im quite happy to eat in a restaurant by myself when away from home, and I think I’d be ok with going to the cinema by myself. But the theatre feels different somehow.

YABU - You’ll be fine
YANBU - You’ll look like a loner

I go to the theatre by myself all the time and it feels perfectly normal.. really what are you worried about

I do this all the time if the choice is to see something or not if I can’t find someone to go with me. It’s liberating - do it!

Not at all, I go all the time. I love it.

People go to the theatre on their own all the time. You are going to sit in the dark - how would anyone even know if you were with someone?

Not weird at all. Personally I’d be more comfortable going to the theatre by myself than I would eating in a restaurant by myself.

I did this for the first time last month and it was great. No one cares, they are all there to see the same show as you. I actually ended up briefly chatting to someone at the interval who was also there alone. Go for it!

Literally no-one gives a shit.

How would they even know if you were with the people sat near you anyway?

It's weird that eating alone isn't a problem for you, as it is for a few people I know who would happily go to the theatre alone.

As for the cinema, there are a huge amount of people alone in most afternoon movies sittings.

Go, enjoy yourself, don't miss out on something because you are worried what others will think! No-one will even notice

I just went to see Inside No 9 by myself and I was far from the only single person!

I’ve just done that today, went to a matinee. I have days off in the week, most of my friends don’t, so I do it all the time.
I don’t think it’s weird, go for it.

Why not?

Of all places, there's very little opportunity for interaction with others anyway.

Anyone who judges you is the problem and they only judge because they wouldn't have the self confidence to do it themselves.

Are you saying that I’m weird? How very dare you.

Definitely not weird! I love going places by myself. No one will care honestly. Go!

Absolutely yes, do go.
I often go to theatre (and cinema, and music gigs) on my own. Usually get chatting to people sitting nearby. Not odd at all.

The only thing I won’t go to on my own is a live stand-up comedy gig.

Also OP, any time you've gone to the theatre with someone, have you both sat there scanning the audience before the lights go down, gossiping about who might/might not be alone?

No, thought not 👀

Thank you, I feel a bit better about it. I supposed I’m worried about people thinking that I don’t have any friends to go with, or bumping into someone who I vaguely know and then asking who I’m with. I have a lot of insecurities from being bullied at school over 15 years ago and it’s making me feel a bit anxious. Plus it’s a comedian that I want to see, I really hope they don’t try to interact with me…

Why not a live stand up gig? That’s what it is!

It’s so freeing! Absolutely go alone - you don’t have to wonder if anyone else is enjoying it

I have been by myself and it was brilliant. Had the most fabulous (and cheap) seat all by itself, but that’s not a must obviously .

I go alonne a lot. I like the cheap last minute tickets and need to make a quick decision, without time to find someone to come with me, so I just book and go.

I’ve been by myself a few times. In our local theatre, there are a few seats where you’re slightly off at an angle so I tend to pick one of those as it seems a bit less obvious than if I was slap
bang in the middle of the stalls. I also tend to arrive just before it starts so that there’s no hanging around.

Just don't sit at the front!
If anyone asks surely you'd just say what you did here "there were only single tickets by the time I looked, so I came on my own rather than miss it"

I’ve done it several times and really enjoyed it. No worrying about whether or not the person I’ve dragged along is hating it!
I think it has become much more common as prices have gone up. Certainly noticed lots of other people on their own the last few times.

Theatre, cinema, exhibitions ... i go to them all on my own. No one cares or notices!

I've been to the theatre by myself, no problem. If you only do things when you've got company, you could end up never doing anything. So go!!