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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Going to the theatre by myself

91 replies

AmIALoser · 12/11/2025 22:54

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

OP posts:
GCAcademic · 12/11/2025 23:18

I don’t understand why this is even a question. It’s perfectly normal to go to the theatre on your own.

Cynic17 · 12/11/2025 23:19

Yes!! I'm going to London next week to stay for 3 nights, and going to the theatre by myself every night. It's a massive treat, and I do it a couple of times a year. I mean, why wouldn't you? It's 2025, not 1825, for goodness sake.

Buxusmortus · 12/11/2025 23:20

I've done it a lot. No one cares in the slightest. Face it, if you're there with other people do you look at the people either side and assess who they're with, or if they're alone, of course you don't! You simply don't care about them at all.
You'll be absolutely fine.

Maddy70 · 12/11/2025 23:21

It's one of life's luxuries

ilovesooty · 12/11/2025 23:23

Go and have a lovely time.

RubyMentor · 12/11/2025 23:27

Sorry I voted the wrong way, absolutely nothing wrong with going to the theatre on your own and ditto eating a meal enjoy yourself

Vgbeat · 12/11/2025 23:28

I went to see Greg.Davies on my own earlier this year as I could only get one ticket. I had a great time

crappycrapcrap · 12/11/2025 23:31

I did this recently - Saw a production I really wanted to but couldn’t think of anyone who would enjoy it or afford it to go with so I went alone - loved it! I had a glass of wine and afterwards a mooch around the nice shops and felt like a little holiday. No one appeared to care less that I was on my own.

changemyname4thisonly · 12/11/2025 23:31

I often go to the theatre by myself.
Nobody gives me a second glance

Fuzzywoo · 12/11/2025 23:32

MagicalAnimal · 12/11/2025 22:56

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!

I did this a few months ago when there was just one seat available in the stalls. It was good to see the show and not miss it because I couldn't get two seats together for me and a friend.

Lincslady53 · 12/11/2025 23:36

Who is going to judge you? I'll tell you who. No one. Go and have a good night out and enjoy yourself.

StewkeyBlue · 12/11/2025 23:42

Just this evening I’ve booked to see 2 different shows by myself - got an e mail about special offers for fast selling seats at cheap prices, and want to see the shows.

By the time I ask friends if they want to go and faff around about available dates, the cheap deal seats will be gone. The objective is to see the show. I can arrange to see my friends any time, and actually talk with them!

I do go to the theatre with friends and family. But go on my own too. And see plenty of people there on their own.

Who cares?

Ahwig · 12/11/2025 23:42

I’ve retired and my husband is still working so I’ve had several great afternoon cinema trips on my own and I think the theatre is just the same.

RecordBreakers · 12/11/2025 23:44

I almost always go to the theatre by myself.
Have done multiple times a year over 30 odd years.

Much easier to book than trying to find a day that works for 2 or more people. Plus, as you have found, you can sometimes pick up a single seat even when shows are popular.

I find it really strange that you are nervous of going to the theatre on your own but are happy to go to a restaurant on your own. At the theatre, you are sitting in the dark, being passive, just watching the show and not talking to or interacting with anyone. More usually, at a meal, historically you would be there meeting someone, and chatting with them. Not that there is anything wrong with going on your own, but it seems a bigger step than going to the theatre on your own.

Freebus · 12/11/2025 23:46

Definitely go. No one will care. Last time I was at the theatre I saw people move around anyway if there are free spaces - to get more comfy seats.

Nutmuncher · 12/11/2025 23:46

Lucky to have several theatres on my doorstep- I often go solo, to be honest it’s very rare me and DP ever sit next to each other when we go together.

Needaglowup · 13/11/2025 00:01

I voted the wrong way too … I keep going to book myself a ticket to go on my own too OP and chicken out ..think I will now after seeing all these comments

nocoolnamesleft · 13/11/2025 00:12

Love going to the theatre on my own.

forestaremagic · 13/11/2025 00:15

Don’t be ridiculous, why do you worry so much about what other people think. Why is it odd or feel ashamed that your on your own, who cares. I feel sorry for people that miss out on things cause they darent go alone.

Being on your own, means you don’t have to worry about is the other people your with enjoying the show. I’ve been to many things on my own, Notice especially at concerts there’s always a miserable couple sitting there and your wonder why their there? Or you know someone has been dragged along as their other half wanted to go.

As the price of tickets is so expensive, you see a lot more people on there own.

dizzydizzydizzy · 13/11/2025 00:18

Nobody will bat an eyelid. Go and enjoy!

Lazygardener · 13/11/2025 00:33

It’s nice to go to the theatre/cinema with other people and share the experience. It’s just as nice to go on your own and just have your own thoughts. It’s really normal, something I do a lot, and anyone judging is pretty narrow minded.

Namechangefordaughterevasion · 13/11/2025 01:22

Theatre is my major hobby and luxury. A quick check showed I've been to 30 shows this year and 22 of those were solo visits. Usually I prefer it because I can really focus on the play and not have to worry about whether my companion/s are enjoying themselves. On the rare occasion I really dislike the play I can leave in the interval without having to worry about anyone else's preference (my husband once made me sit through the 2nd act of Wicked and I've never quite got over the horror of it).

It's a perfectly normal thing to do.

AgnesMcDoo · 13/11/2025 01:23

I go to the theatre by myself all the time.

no one judges me and even if they did I don’t give a fuck.

go. Enjoy.

nomas · 13/11/2025 01:29

When we went to see Harry Potter on the £20 lottery seats, there was a teenage girl there who had watched it from the £20 front row lottery seats 15 times! After the first couple of times, she went alone and loved it. So I say embrace the gen Z vibe and go alone.

Evergreen505 · 13/11/2025 01:36

I went to the theatre last week by myself. Absolutely fantastic.

It is really something to just go do things alone. I didn't give a shit. I felt quite empowered by my ability to be so comfortable in doing this that I walked in with such confidence and smiles that I didn't notice anyone else. A lovely couple decided to talk to me which was nice so I met new interesting people for ten minutes. That was a nice experience but enough after ten mins. You can really enjoy something without having to talk when you go alone.

Go and enjoy yourself.