Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think these theatre prices are outrageous?

403 replies

takeharry · 08/07/2026 14:24

Currently looking at HAMILTON tickets, now I understand they have a ‘star’ casting in Leslie Odom Jr, original broadway cast but FIVE HUNDRED fucking pounds? For one ticket?

There are a few £250/£275 tickets left but the vast majority left are £500.

AIBU to think there should be some sort of regulatory body to prevent this kind of bullshit pricing?

£1k for a couple to have an evening at the theatre Biscuit

OP posts:
fundamentallyauthentic · 13/07/2026 19:32

It’s been said a million times that you can get cheap tickets for OK seats (occasionally good seats) for plenty of shows in London, especially if you can book on the day (which I appreciate some people can’t). I see Ben Platt is doing a show soon off west end where the top tickets are £70 each. That’s cheap to see someone of his calibre, but perhaps not cheap enough for some.

Theatre will never be available to everyone, because the theatres will always need to turn a profit or break even. This capitalist society we live in isn’t going anywhere.

GimmieABreakOr3 · 13/07/2026 19:43

Just paid £32 for a play in Hackney Wick if anyone’s interested… 👍

clary · 13/07/2026 19:45

cloudtreecarpet · 13/07/2026 19:22

Because it's good for society generally if cultural events like the theatre are available to all.
And this isn't about whether "life is fair" or not - obviously it's not - it's about theatres charging high prices out of greed and simply because they can.
But I imagine someone will now say that theatres are barely scraping by and so have to charge huge prices...

This is one of those circular arguments that are just quite tedious so I will bow out.

I think the prices are outrageous. You don't.

But as has already been pointed out by me and others inc @fundamentallyauthentic just now, cultural events like theatre are available to all.

My DD is 25 and she (and anyone aged 25 or under) can get tickets for pretty much any RSC production for £10. That includes stalls seats that might be £70.

If you are older then you hopefully have a bit more money than a recent graduate might, and can afford £30-£40. Most theatres, even in the West End, will have tickets at that price.

The Proms in the Royal Albert Hall will often have tickets at about £20-25. Yes you are in the top circle, but actually we often choose those seats, because they are a good bargain and it's not as tho we need to see the clarinet player's expression as they play.

I just looked somewhat at random at Matilda the musical in the West End and there are upper circle seats for £35. That's available to all isn't it? Or what would be an acceptable price?

Yes tickets for the World Cup final will be out of the reach of most of us. That's OK tho. Lots of other football matches are more than affordable.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page