My first West End Musica!

Welcome to the board ! You've got about 20 years on me but am also quite heavily tattooed. In honesty I don't think other people care if you're alone or not, they've got their own things going on and everyone is so wrapped up in the spectacle that it probably doesn't even cross their minds. A lot of us will book day tickets to save money and it often means that we are split up from our other halfs so effectively sitting alone and it's never been an issue for me at all and can actually feel quite liberating!

As for if it's worth the money, it's completely subjective on your thoughts on the show. I've seen big shows that I thought were absolute drivvle and felt completely ripped off and likewise I like some of the shows that others hate. We saw 4 shows this weekend, it's a treat as we don't live local to London but if you hang around the board you'll soon pick up better priced seats a lot of us use an app called todaytix which is great for offers and day seats combine that with the seatplan website and you'll be able to see pictures and reviews of the seats you book sometimes you can get some absolute bargains depending on where you sit and the view is still excellent !!

Cost of drinks etc can vary with the show and the venue my advice would be to expect London prices and then add on a little bit for account for it being in a theatre.

Sitting down is a personal thing, personally I like to be sat down early so I haven't got to ask a whole row of people to stand up to let me through so I guess usually about 20 minutes prior to curtain up. Clapping wise, I wouldn't give it a thought, you clap as loud as you want! I think I'd say as long as you're not spoiling anyone else enjoyment of the show it's all good.

I've not see beauty and the beast or my fair lady but am sure you will love them. Frozen is really good if not a little family focused but the special effects and emotion are worth the ticket price alone I hope you have an amazing time and be sure to come back and let us know how it goes !

Thank you so much for your replies, they’ve genuinely put my mind at ease! I’m sure after tomorrow I’ll have a better idea of it all. I would love to let you know what I thought of it!

Thanks brother, I appreciate that. People watching is a great idea! My wife and I just retired, she’s not a musical person but I’ve always been and want to start getting some in. Cheers!

Not much more too add really. I went through the same thing a couple of years ago and now go on my own quite regularly. You don't get any weirdness, if anything, you do sometimes find a friendly individual on their own next to you and can have a little chat.

One thing about getting to your seat early is the delicate matter of going to the loo. First act can be 1 1/2 hours or more, so if you've had a drink or two beforehand might be worth while going to o the loo just before the start.

I’m a big guy and I’ve been to Frozen 5 times, only one of which was with a child. 95% of my trips are solo and once you get over any initial worry I think it’s much better, you can’t talk to a friend during the show anyway! Disney magical Mondays seems great for single seats too! I got a fab one for the lion king.
I don’t really go in for drinks and stuff but do love when they have themed sippy cups 😊
I prefer to go in about half an hour before the start so in my seat with like plenty of time but as other have said that is personal preference. I do judge it by if I am mid row or aisle too!
Have a great time. I have double Disney with lion king and beauty and the beast Saturday!

Theatre is the most accommodating and accepting genre of any entertainment. There is only one general rule and that is to just sit back and enjoy the show.

I am sure you will be a regular and will be one of the West End crowd in time.

Welcome to the board bangbang. I hope that you have the best time and that all of your expectations are met.

I too am a regular solo theatre goer.

Embrace the beauty being played out before your eyes and just loose yourself in this wonderful experience for a couple of hours.

It sounds like we need a Theatreboard Solos Club! Great to hear so many people not afraid to enjoy theatre on their own.

Agree with everything already said, you have nothing to worry about, just relax and enjoy the spectacle and escapism. And there's a whole community of us that you can talk to about it afterwards as well!

Loving the fact that so many people go to shows solo - as I do the majority of time. Only thing I would add about how long should I be in my seat is - if you have an aisle seat get there as late as possible else you will be up and down … up and down etc etc

I always buy a programme and usually an interval ice cream, and don't bother with a drink! My local theatre will fill a reusable water bottle for you, I don't know if that's the same everywhere though.

Have fun!

Hey everyone, thank you so much for so many replies, I really wasnt expecting that but I assure you I read them all before I went on Tuesday. I thought I would wait till I had been to both shows before I replied if that’s ok.

I will start by saying that I bloody loved every minute of both shows! Strangely they are both my second favourites. Beauty and the Beast is my second favourite Disney and My Fair Lady is my second favourite musical.

The Palladium of course is a seminal theatre and I was in the stalls in an end of seat on the right hand side. It was a great view and I didn’t think I’d be so far forward. I couldn’t see a little bit of stage left where the Beast had his big chair but it was only for a few seconds so I was fine.

For The Coliseum I was end of row but in the balcony. Blimey, it was like climbing K2 but I could see the whole stage and I was happy with that. I have to say they take the phrase “on the edge of your seat” literally there. Those were uncomfortable and small. 😂

The staff though seemed to be different. The Palladium staff were so lovely. Everyone of them was helpful and really friendly. The Coliseum weren’t so much. I found them quite stand offfish. I showed my ticket and the guy said that the balcony wasn’t open yet which is fair enough. Literally two minutes later I saw him letting people through. He totally ignored me although I was standing right in front of him. I thought they might have different tickets but no I eventually went up to him and he let me through. Don’t know if that was my appearance or not. I didn’t let it bother me though.

Beauty and the Beast was so amazing! The cast were funny, the singing was awesome and the big set piece for Be Our Guest was just stunning! My favourite song is Belle, the first number, and honestly I almost blubbed! 😂😂. I’ll never forget my first West End show.

I loved My Fair Lady too. It was interesting to see the ensemble push on the smaller bits of scenery. It wasn’t Amara Okereke as Eliza but her understudyCharlotte Kennedy. I was a bit disappointed when I found that out (sorry if that’s not the done thing) but after the first song I wasn’t at all disappointed. That lass has a cracking set of pipes! The show was so funny and I loved it.

I’ll be honest, I did still feel a bit awkward but it got better. That’s probably more to do with me than anyone else and I’m sure it will get better.
I was a little bit shocked at the number of people who were looking at their mobiles. Why would you pay for a ticket to a fantastic show just to check your Facebook?! One of the staff came to our section to say that the cast had said someone was taking photos and videos so stop doing it. I don’t get it. There wasn’t much talking or singing along ( except in my head!) so that was cool.

Anyroadup, thank you all again for being so supportive to me I now hope to be a regular for West End musicals and I’m sure I’ll have a great time!

Nice one bangbang. Great to hear your feedback! The Coliseum staff can be a bit odd sometimes - no idea why. Perhaps they prefer Opera audiences... It was funny when Bat Out Of Hell was staged there a few years ago, cos there were lots of shaven heads, tattoos and general biker folk in the venue. All seemingly at odds with the surroundings yet all having a brilliant time. Oh, and a bike in the lobby! Good times!

Keep loving the shows - Bat Out Of Hell returns to London for a limited season next March, so if you like Meat Loaf/Jim Steinman, it's another show you might enjoy. Welcome to the theatre community!

I go alone to 90% of the many shows I see every month.

The only time I ever felt a little self-conscious was at Mrs Henderson Presents in my usual (front row stalls) seat. Surrounded by men almost all of a certain age and mostly wearing raincoats on a dry sunny day. I fear the couples and ladies sitting behind us thought the worst of us....

( re above post I think the Coliseum is poorly signposted internally and I walked round in a circle from the box office before finding the entrance to the stalls)

Especially during Singing in the rain