Friends with Benefits - the theatre membership thread

OK, so Barbican membership. £50 for the first level of membership. Despite recent downgrades to the benefits, still I think the best value theatre membership scheme I have.

Benefits:
- priority booking
- no booking fee (save £3 a time)
- 20% discounts on most theatre shows. Not for some visiting companies (eg the RSC) - from what the box office told me this is at the request of the visiting companies.
- Also 20% discount on most "contemporary music" shows - but not for classical shows.
- 20% discount on the cinemas (and the 3 cinemas are very nice and cheap for London anyway)
- free entry to the gallery - worth ~£12 a time and there are usually 3 exhibitions per year
- access to the "members lounge" which is nicer than the other bars in the Barbican and quite handy during intervals
- discount in the shop (but not on programmes)

So if you see a couple of shows and use the cinema and gallery, very easy to recoup your membership fee

Cons:
- it's the Barbican
- nothing without Doctor Who or Sherlock in it sells out
- theatre discounts are "limited" so only a certain number available for each show
- wording of the membership is ambiguous on the level of discount - used to state 20%, now says "Special offers on selected music and theatre events" so this could change? They were asked about this when the wording changed and said the 20% discount was staying.
- the catering discount (15% off at all bars and cafes in the centre) was removed last year
- the great deal of a free bottle of wine (worth £20) when 2 people dine in Cote has also gone

ATG Standard : £40 or £35 by recurring direct debit.

Priority
If you love to sit in the front row, or like to be the first to know about productions then this is certainly for you. We will give you priority access to tickets before they are released to the general public but please make sure we have your email address – we don’t want you to miss out!


Ticket deals
If you can’t make it for opening night they don’t panic! We still have a range of great ticket deals and offers throughout the week for our Theatre Card members and you can book up to 4 tickets with your Card.


No extra fees to pay
No one likes paying those extra fees when they book theatre tickets. When you become a member, we’ll waive fees on most productions when you buy your tickets on our website


Exchanging your tickets
You will never need to worry about missing a performance again! It won’t matter if the babysitter cancels or if something else happens, your Theatre Card allows you to exchange your tickets for another performance, subject to availability.


Making your visit a night to remember
Take your Theatre Card with you when you visit and you and your guests will receive 10% off drinks at the bar and a complimentary cloakroom on us!


Theatre events
Every now and then we offer a range of Q&As, pre theatre talks, special workshops and tours for our members. These allow you to look behind the scenes and find out that little bit more about your favourite stars, actors and theatres. (Extra charges apply for these, the card just gives you access to book)


Restaurant and visitor attraction offers
Fancy something to eat before the theatre? Entertaining the kids during half term? We’ve got some great offers for our members.


Where you can use your card
There are 21 Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) venues across the UK and 15 in the West End and London*


ATG Gold membership: £95
Theatre Card Gold – a little bit of luxury and style to your membership
Our ATG Theatre Card Gold offers all the benefits of ATG Theatre Card plus some amazing additional extras!

ATG Theatre Card Gold includes 6 red label packages which includes; access to the Ambassador Lounge, a welcome Prosecco (soft drink for our Kids Package), complimentary cloakroom, dedicated host and 2 free ATG house programmes.

There are 24 Ambassador Lounges where you can use your ATG Theatre Card Gold.

15 quid for a tea towel?

I've given up on the Southbank membership this year due to the Hayward closing - for me this makes the cost worthwhile over the year. It's pricey compared to other schemes at £65. Agree with you on the members' room though, as with the Barbican this is a nice benefit. 



Only £13.50 if you're a member! If you buy 33 tea towels you recoup the cost of membership.

I'm sure this reflects badly on me, but I think I've probably made up the price of the membership on 2-4-1 Happy Hour wine alone.  ;-)

For two years of refurbishment - it will reopen in September 2017. It's part of the 'Let the Light In' South Bank renovations.
www.southbankcentre.co.uk/venues/hayward-gallery

Hampstead Friends
Priority booking

10% discount at Hampstead Theatre bar

No fee when exchanging changing tickets for the same production

Guaranteed advance notice of forthcoming productions

Quarterly e-newsletter, Hampstead Backstage

Invitations to exclusive events at Hampstead Theatre including breakfast with the Artistic Director

They also have a fantastic Under 30s £15 tickets scheme if you don't mind being in the front row or the very back dress circle row (Prefer front row, obviously)

Old Vic Friends
Dedicated Friends booking line
Priority booking for main stage productions*
Priority booking for Q&As and talks
Season announcements and email updates

Almeida
Priority booking – access to your favourite seats before they go on public sale
Events – discussion with creative team and drinks reception for each production
Supporters’ e-Newsletter – exclusive interviews and insights into our work


For me these are theatres (alongside the NT) I go to a lot so it made sense to get priority and access to the cheaper tickets. I don't know if I will renew any at the moment though.

"Although bear in mind that sometimes even when you provide your email address, we'll totally ignore it, just for LOLs! And when you ring to ask us could we please bother ourselves to email you occasionally when new shows go on sale, like, you know, we promised to when you shelled out 35 quid for membership, we'll say we'll do just that - and then totally forget about it once we've put the phone down!" ;-)

Not quite the same thing, but does anyone have any experience with the Bush Supporter scheme? What are the supporter events like?

Never thought of ROH membership before but dress rehearsal access sounds great. What time of day are they usually on?

I did plump for a year's membership of the Donmar (mostly for SRB's Temple) but am thinking of renewing it - I forgot how nice it was to sit in the decent seats at the Donmar and not have to sweat over the Monday tickets! I also went for the RSC membership for priority booking for the SRB Tempest (if I'm coming across a bit stalky, it's a wholly accurate impression) but won't renew because their tickets are outrageously expensive and the higher prices at weekends annoy me.

Have been a long-standing member of the NT and not just for the priority booking but because I also genuinely wanted to support them; latest decision on ticket price rises is making me reconsider - I might keep it but reduce my contribution to the priority minimum rather than give them extra.

Re BFI ticket returns. Only if the screening is sold out or with 24 hours notice.

I have BFI membership, £35, mainly for priority booking and shop discounts.

Barbican membership, £45, good for no booking fees and some discounts but the members bar opens at weird times.

National, £80. Mainly to get priority on Travelex in particular.

Southbank Centre, £250. Was good for facilitated booking but we have been told that benefit has been withdrawn as they now have too many members. Can attend events and rehearsals but we don't do that much. Can book a table in the members bar.

ATG, £40. Usually pays for itself with discounts etc but we tend to stick to Richmond and the odd central London venue.

Just joined Old Vic, £60. Will see how that goes.

Do you have to pay more for the tours/special events, or is it included in the £30?

Almedia Theatre

ACTORS' CIRCLE £300
For a donation of £300 or more you can become a Member of our ACTORS' CIRCLE
In addition to the above, you will be offered:

Personalised booking service through the Development department
DIRECTORS' CIRCLE £500
For a donation of £500 or more you can become a Member of our DIRECTORS' CIRCLE
In addition to the above, you will be offered:

Invitation to the annual Directors' Circle reception
PATRONS £1,250
For a donation of £1,250 (benefits £250)* or more you can become a PATRON
In addition to the above, you will be offered:

Two complimentary tickets to each main stage Almeida Theatre production (up to 12 tickets a year)
A double invitation to one Almeida Theatre Patrons' Evening for each main stage production
A double invitation to annual Artistic Director's lunch
Opportunity to book up to four house seats when a production is officially sold-out (subject to availability)
*Patron £1,250. Minimum payment £250, suggested donation £1,000. The donation portion is a suggested donation to which Gift Aid provisions apply, but you may purchase the benefits package separately without making any further donation. The online payment is set at the combined amount of £1,250 but if you would like to donate at a different level or would like to purchase the benefits package please call Katie Wellington in the Development Team on 020 7288 4935.

BENEFACTORS £3,000
For a donation of £3,000 (benefits £300)* or more you can become a BENEFACTOR
In addition to the above, you will be offered:

Invitations to every main stage Press Night
Acknowledgement on the Benefactors' board in the Almeida Theatre foyer
Private backstage tour, on request*
*Benefactor £3,000. Minimum payment £300, suggested donation £2,700. The donation portion is a suggested donation to which Gift Aid provisions apply, but you may purchase the benefits package separately without making a further donation. The online payment is set at the combined amount of £1,250 but if you would donate at a different level or would like to purchase the benefit package please call Katie Wellington in the Development Team on 020 7288 4935.

PRODUCTION CIRCLE £6,000
For a donation of £6,000 (benefits £450)* or more you can become a member of our
PRODUCTION CIRCLE
In addition to the above, you will be offered:

Invitations to selected dress or technical rehearsals
Draft scripts when rehearsals for productions begin
Published scripts signed by the cast or creative teams (subject to availability)
*Production Circle £6,000. Minimum payment £450, suggested donation £5,550. The donation portion is a suggested donation to which Gift Aid provisions apply, but you may purchase the benefits package separately without making any further donation. The online payment is set at the combined amount of £6,000 but if you would like to donate at a different level or purchase the benefirs package please call Katie Wellington in the Development Team on 020 7288 4935.

ARTISTIC DIRECTORS’ INNER CIRCLE £12,000
For a donation of £12,000 (benefits £600) or more you can become a member of our Inner Circle. This is a unique opportunity to become closely involved at the heart of our company. With regular engagement with Rupert Goold, the Almeida's Artistic Director, members play a crucial and active role enabling the theatre's programme and the artistic standards for which the Almeida Theatre is renowned. For more information on the Inner Circle contact Katie Wellington on kwellington@almeida.co.uk or 020 7288 4935.

*Inner Circle £12,000. Minimum payment £600, suggested donation £11,400. The donation portion is a suggested donation to which Gift Aid provisions apply, but you may purchase the benefits package separately without making any further donation