To think that West End shows are not all as overpriced as some on here say?

[Carla786]

I definitely think that people are being priced out by col and this is very unfair. But I also think some posts on here about how unaffordable West End theatre is are exaggerated.
The Globe offers standing room for as low as £5 or £6. OK, it's not ideal as most of us would rather sit down but it does at least mean a lot of Shakespeare & some others is affordable if you're prepared to stand.

Then as to West End musicals : I think an issue here is that pps who cite them as unaffordable are trying to take a whole family, 2-3 or maybe more kids, as well as them & DP. This will be a lot harder than going on your own or with one other person, especially if trying for an Xmas show (though booking in advance might slightly lessen). It does vary based on show too : the most popular will of course be more likely to be sky high.

COL has obviously increased a lot, but I also wonder how affordable West End was in the past for family trips. I was born early 2000s and my mum was able to get a lot of cheap tickets very high up just for me & her. As a child her family didn't really do musicals or plays. In the 70s-90s, were big shows a lot more affordable for family trips?

So I suppose I'd say that I agree prices are too high for a lot of families, and this is wrong : but I'd also caveat that I think there are lot more affordable options than some posts on here imply.

As I’ve said repeatedly I don’t find those expensive tickets to be ‘the good seats’ anyway. They are welcome to them. Are you going to respond to my points about the real issues with arts investment/profit at all? Or why very high profits on a rare success might fund the whole shebang really?

Your straw man arguments/ attempts to distract from the point are beginning to suggest that you have some kind of vested interest in people paying extortionate prices for theatre tickets.

The majority of profits from £200+ seats at big shows like Les Mis, Lion King etc. are going directly into the pockets of wealthy individuals and corporations who own the theatres.

Yes, those individuals/ corporations may provide some funding at grass roots levels to support the arts. They are still multi-millionaires. They could easily a) do more, and b) provide it on much lower ticket prices. It would be straightforward to work it into a government cap on profits AND keep ticket prices low.

I wish you all the best and hopefully anyone reading the thread will make their own judgements.

some people have no idea of the costs that go into a west end production .

are the tickets overpriced and unaffordable for most

It depends what you mean by 'the tickets' though.

Are the BEST SEATS, on the most popular night, for highly popular shows, expensive - yes. Whether they're 'overpriced' depends on what you mean by that. The dictionary definition is 'costing more than it's worth,' = how much someone is willing to pay and the enjoyment they get from it is all completely subjective so no idea how you can say definitively 'yes.'

Does that mean all tickets for all shows are overpriced and unaffordable - absolutely not.

Exactly the same as saying 'were front row Oasis/Taylor Swift at wembley tickets' very expensive = yes.
Were they overpriced = well given they all sold, clearly not.
Does that mean all tickets for all music events are overpriced = again, no.

Same with football season tickets, expensive steak at a fancy restaurant, etc.

I find it weird so many people seem to think theatre is some sort of entitlement people should be able to get cheap as chips, without suggesting the same for any other sort of entertainment.

Apart from everything else, how would that work practically? Most shows already do 8 plus sittings a week and are fully booked, or near as damn it. If everyone could afford to go all the time, how would you ensure everyone got tickets? You'd still end up not being able to go very often, only rather than because it was out of your price range it would be because there was huge competition for every seat!

I find it weird so many people seem to think theatre is some sort of entitlement people should be able to get cheap as chips, without suggesting the same for any other sort of entertainment.

Yes. There is nothing special or better about theatre compared to going to the cinema, reading a book you’ve bought or going to a concert. But theatre-going is getting singled out for some reason.

In a similar view everyone complains about the price of gig tickets - I watched the behind the scenes documentary of the Eras tour and it is amazing how much goes into it. it’s not just Taylor and a couple of dancers prancing around on a stage.

This. Pps have spoken upthread about discounts for younger and disabled people.

Yes!

But some people are just here to complain they can’t get the most prime seats, booked at whatever time it enters their heads, and with no research as to how to bring the cost down, and pay the same price as the cinema.

You can’t argue with some people!

To be fair, cinema tickets are so cheap now. Vue tickets are £5.99 for adults.

Not everywhere. It’s £18 to see Project Hail Mary tomorrow at my local Everyman here in the north west. In London you’re looking at the £12 - £22 range.

Straw man?
Nope.
And why does me saying I never pay extortionate prices and don’t think anyone needs to suggest I’ve got a vested interest in people paying them?
I don’t think you are reading my posts.

Anyway, what do you think about investing in grassroots art projects? Or do you have a vested interest in stopping them happening since you keep distracting from my question? Because I didn’t say theatre owners should do that. I said their profit on the odd successful show coukd well be what’s allowing them to develop new projects - most of which fail after costing a fortune.

That’s a lot. In West London, Vue Westfield charge £7.99. London suburbs are £5.99.

Leicester Square cinemas are more.

Completely agree. All shows have ‘premium’ seats at £££ so obviously if you look at those only, they look really expensive. But the fact is those are overpriced and aimed at folk with money to burn. Choose and book sensibly and it’s a lot more affordable. I’ve often had friends say ‘oh my god I can’t see x show as tickets are £200’ and when I point out the £35 ones they say ‘oh yeah, didn’t see those’. I think perhaps people who don’t go to the theatre that often don’t think to look properly at the different seat options 🤷🏻‍♀️ I go frequently, have brilliant seats, and would never pay more than £60 and frequently a third of that. It costs money to put on a big musical and pay orchestra, dancers, cast, crew etc - I also think people are utterly unrealistic about this and expect cinema prices without realising the work that goes into it and sheer number of people working on it.

As you identified this is mainly an issue for families, made more problematic if they don’t live in London. These tickets are “from” that price. The chances of finding a ticket at the lower end on a weekend or in school holidays when most people would have to attend is almost non existent

It’s really not. I was a teacher before my retirement. I’ve been to many, many shows at weekends and in holidays at the cheapest prices. You just have to book ahead.

They aren’t actually available though - not unless you want to book for a Wednesday afternoon in March 2027! Anything that is left in the next few months is falling into the higher price tickets. And £300+ for a ticket is insane.

They are available. I’ve been on weekends and in school holidays for years at that price. Just means booking ahead. Occasionally as much as a year for a new production, yes, but usually not that long.

Travel and overnight stays certainly bump up the price if you don’t live in the capital 😫

They do, but that’s hardly the fault of the theatres, and they can’t be expected to price accordingly.

This

I think she meant specifically for Paddington. This is such a new show unfortunately it's very booked up.

Regular theatre goer here.

I don't think the west end is over priced at all. I think we have a bigger problem with regional theatres being over priced.

I live in canterbury and over the last five years the marlowe has started to sell tickets for touring shows the same price as they would be in London.

In London you also pay for the experince and great customer service and it makes the price worth it as a whole. The marlowe (just as an example) charges London prices but offers nothing to the experience.

I was thinking more of the ‘posh’ cinemas in London - Picturehouse, Everyman etc.

Still applies. Find out when new dates are being released. Book immediately.

I think many of the regional theatres offer a comparable experience and the casting is generally excellent.