It’s probably a safe bet that just about everyone reading this wishes they could go to shows more often. Sadly, that doesn’t always happen. Life gets in the way, and seeing shows costs money – especially in London, where West End plays can cost around £100.
Don’t give up on your theater dreams just yet, though. There are plenty of ways to get around those steep prices and see more shows this year than ever before. Here’s a helpful list of ten ways to see more theater in 2017:
Photo from Disney’s The Lion King, West End, London.
- Do your research ahead of time.
Make theater a priority in your life by planning out the year in advance. Check out the schedule for the year, and make note of when your favorite shows are opening, closing, or offering discounts. If you pencil these events in on your calendar, you won’t find yourself suddenly sobbing in dismay when you find out your all-time favorite show just closed last week – and you never went to see it. You can also budget more effectively if you stagger plays throughout the year.
- Look at all the available dates.
Sometimes tickets are cheaper on weekdays or matinees. Other shows lower their prices after the first few months of a run. If money is tight, it’s worth browsing through several months to find the cheapest tickets to a show.
- Choose your seats strategically.
If you’re willing to compromise on your seating, you can also find cheaper tickets. Whether or not it’s worth an obstructed view to save a few pounds is your call, but it’s not always that drastic. Usually you can find lower prices if you’re willing to sit a little farther back in the theater.
Photo from 42nd Street, West End, London.
- Take advantage of rush tickets.
If you’re short on money but have some time on your hands, this is a viable option. Often, if a show doesn’t sell all its tickets for a certain performance, those extra tickets go on sell at a discounted price. Every theater has a different rush policy, so make sure you check out their website before heading down to the box office to wait in line. Midweek matiness, week nights, and off-summer performances are usually your best bet for getting rush tickets. You can also get discounted tickets at the TKTS booth in Leicester Square. TKTS offers cheaper tickets on the day of the performance and up to one week in advance.
- Compare ticket prices across websites.
Some websites offer cheaper tickets than those you can by directly from the theater box office. We recommend comparetheatertickets.com, which rounds up all the best theater prices for you so you don’t have to spend hours searching the internet.
- See more fringe and community theater
Before you roll your eyes, just remember that there are plenty of great actors and directors in London who don’t make it into the big West End shows. Where do you think they end up? Community theater productions. And guess what? Tickets to these shows are a lot cheaper than those pricey West End tickets.
- Go to theater broadcasts
It’s not quite the same as being there, but then again, you have a better view. Thanks to programs like National Theater Live and Live in HD, you can now see some of the world’s best performances in movie theaters for cheaper rates than you’d pay to attend one of these events in person.
Photo from Les Miserables, West End, London.
- Become a theater critic
Love theater? Do you have a good eye for what makes a show successful (or not)? Some websites and publications offer free theater tickets in exchange for reviews. If you’re good at writing about theater and can pick out the important aspects of a performance, you might be just the person they’re looking for. Theater critic gigs aren’t always easy to find, but if you can score one, it’s a fantastic opportunity.
- Join a secret club
There are several “underground” clubs in London that give their members free theater tickets. The word on the street is that theaters know these clubs turn out good audiences who behave appropriately and duly appreciate live theater, so they give them a bunch of tickets to distribute among their members. Some of these clubs don’t even require a membership fee. Unbelievable, right? It’s probably the best kept secret of the West End.
- Stand
In Shakespeare’s time, people who couldn’t afford theater tickets paid a penny to stand on the ground in front of the stage during a show. Well, guess what? You can still do that. Some theaters offer discounted standing room only tickets to sold out shows. And Shakespeare’s Globe gives out 700 standing tickets per show – at a whopping price of £5 each. Yes, you’re going to be standing for the whole performance, but you’ve got a great view of the stage, and you get to experience Shakespeare in a way that’s truly authentic.
Theater today is more accessible than ever before. If you take advantage of all the opportunities out there, you shouldn’t have any excuses not to see more theater this year. You’re welcome. Now get out there and experience some shows!
