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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2019 17:37:01 GMT
Well THAT would make the cart rides less bumpy and no mistake..... Sounds wheely useful! |
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Post by Polly1 on Feb 20, 2019 18:04:31 GMT
Perhaps we could stop the sarcasm and get back to the topic of the thread, West End ticket prices.
I think we've established that there are cheap tickets to be had, whether you are booking a long way ahead or on the day. And there will always be tickets available for those who don't mind what they pay, be it corporates or once-a-year eventers - nowadays a vast swathe of premium seats for almost every show. The problem is that for people like me who like to go fairly often and want a decent seat, prices have risen astronomically.
Take 'The Price' as an example (ironically!) Some friends were keen to see this until I told them that a decent seat would cost £69. I didn't dare mention the premium prices of £99 & £129. These prices are now fairly standard even for plays. Yes, I know there will almost certainly be discounts and ways to get cheaper tickets but it is so off-putting for both regular and occasional theatre-goers.
I don't know how this situation can be allowed to continue.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2019 18:35:37 GMT
I'm sorry stop the sarcasm? I don't understand?
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Post by Dawnstar on Feb 20, 2019 19:29:11 GMT
I do the travel to the theatre in reverse - I like going to regional theatres and always go there by train. I always book my theatre and train well in advance. I'm also lucky in that regional theatre prices are much cheaper. I remember around 10 years ago when my partner was buying top price tickets for a professional Saturday matinee performance of Abigail's Party at the theatre in Harrogate. The box office lady said "that'll be £40 please". Partner: "but I want 5 tickets". "Yes that'll be £40 please!" They were £8 each!! I love regional theatres! I don't always find this. It sometimes costs me more to see a show at my local theatre than it does to see it in the West End, especially as my local theatre never does any discounts even if a performance is half empty. While top prices at my local theatre are undoubtedly lower than in the West End, the bottom prices are usually higher. It is rare for any seats to be available at under £20. Most recently, The Comedy About A Bank Robbery is currently at my local theatre & every seat as far back as row P in the stalls is £39. The cheapest seats are £20. At the Criterion I can sit at the outer edge of row B stalls, in a seat that is theoretically restricted view but actually misses nothing significant, for £24. The cheapest seats are £11.25.
I envy people who can get cheap train fares by booking in advance. The prices for Cambridge-London are the same whenever you book: it's £16.75 return (with a railcard) whether I'm booking for this week or for the furthest ahead dates currently bookable in May. I don't bother booking more than a day or two in advance as the train company just gets your money for longer!
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Post by shady23 on Feb 20, 2019 19:40:15 GMT
Totally agree. I recently paid £25 for The Comedy About A Bank Robbery at my local theatre and that was for a restricted view seat in the gallery. All seats closer did not give much change from forty quid.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2019 19:57:23 GMT
I do the travel to the theatre in reverse - I like going to regional theatres and always go there by train. I always book my theatre and train well in advance. I'm also lucky in that regional theatre prices are much cheaper. I remember around 10 years ago when my partner was buying top price tickets for a professional Saturday matinee performance of Abigail's Party at the theatre in Harrogate. The box office lady said "that'll be £40 please". Partner: "but I want 5 tickets". "Yes that'll be £40 please!" They were £8 each!! I love regional theatres! Most recently, The Comedy About A Bank Robbery is currently at my local theatre & every seat as far back as row P in the stalls is £39. The cheapest seats are £20. At the Criterion I can sit at the outer edge of row B stalls, in a seat that is theoretically restricted view but actually misses nothing significant, for £24 Ah, the wonderful B22 huh? |
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Post by Dawnstar on Feb 20, 2019 20:03:31 GMT
Most recently, The Comedy About A Bank Robbery is currently at my local theatre & every seat as far back as row P in the stalls is £39. The cheapest seats are £20. At the Criterion I can sit at the outer edge of row B stalls, in a seat that is theoretically restricted view but actually misses nothing significant, for £24 Ah, the wonderful B22 huh? Yup. I've sat in it so many times I reckon I should have one of those little seat plaques! Totally agree. I recently paid £25 for The Comedy About A Bank Robbery at my local theatre and that was for a restricted view seat in the gallery. All seats closer did not give much change from forty quid. I'm using TCAABR as an example as it's the most recent thing I've booked for regionally but I feel I should also point out that musicals are generally even more expensive - I was horrified when booking for the Les Mis tour in Milton Keynes to find that much of the stalls were £60-70 - while every other play coming to my local theatre in the next few months has a bottom price of £20-25 and a top price of £35-45. No regional theatre bargains in Cambridge. |
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Post by Polly1 on Feb 20, 2019 21:43:49 GMT
'The Price' as an example (ironically!) Some friends were keen to see this until I told them that a decent seat would cost £69. Really? I'm in my usual row Q seat and paid well under £50. Sorry, I acknowledge you are the expert but row Q is too far back for me to count it as a decent seat. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2019 22:17:48 GMT
Really? I'm in my usual row Q seat and paid well under £50. Sorry, I acknowledge you are the expert but row Q is too far back for me to count it as a decent seat. Ah, so then we have to add an element of seat snobbery (for want of a better word) into it. I consider a good seat to be any one I can see the vast majority of the stage from. Half the time that is up in circles rather than the stalls because the rake is generally better for vertically challenged people like me. If you want to spend more for a "better" seat that is obviously your prerogative, but you can't complain that a show is too expensive if there are perfectly adequate cheaper clear view seats available and the only reason you dismiss them is because they are too far back for your personal tastes. |
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Post by Rory on Feb 20, 2019 22:55:27 GMT
To be fair if you're short sighted then row Q is pretty far back.
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Post by Polly1 on Feb 20, 2019 23:27:58 GMT
OK, perhaps I am a bit of a 'seat snob' but my point is that there are now very few decent seats at a reasonable price. Do you think it is acceptable that apart from day seats (one row?) and the very back 2 rows, which are £50 (we could argue whether this is reasonable, or indeed a decent seat), every other seat in the stalls is either £74.75, £99.75 or £127.25? I'm afraid I don't.
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Post by Rory on Feb 20, 2019 23:30:22 GMT
OK, perhaps I am a bit of a 'seat snob' but my point is that there are now very few decent seats at a reasonable price. Do you think it is acceptable that apart from day seats (one row?) and the very back 2 rows, which are £50 (we could argue whether this is reasonable, or indeed a decent seat), every other seat in the stalls is either £74.75, £99.75 or £127.25? I'm afraid I don't. Nailed it. You're dead right. |
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Post by showgirl on Feb 21, 2019 5:08:08 GMT
I'm always shocked by the prices if I look at productions visiting a nearby arts centre. Tickets cost way more than I normally pay and than they would for the same production at some other venues on the tour and although I'd have a shorter distance to travel, a trip there can't be combined with seeing another play and a film beforehand as it can when I go to London or another large town, which is a further disincentive.
I do see the occasional show in the smaller space there (the "Studio") and these are cheaper, but of course they always blasted well start later than those in the main house (why can't theatres stagger these earlier, eg 7.15 pm and 7.30 pm instead of the perennial 7.30 pm and 7.45 pm or worse - some of us have to travel home by infrequent and unreliable public transport!), so then I have to brace myself for a really late night despite the venue being relatively near.
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Post by Dawnstar on Feb 21, 2019 8:28:56 GMT
To be fair if you're short sighted then row Q is pretty far back. Yes, if I was sitting at that sort of distance from a stage then I wouldn't be able to see facial expressions properly so for me it wouldn't be worth paying £50. showgirl My local theatre starts almost everything at 7.45pm & it only has one auditorium so doesn't even have the excuse of staggering start times. I don't know why it does it but it's annoying. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2019 9:11:38 GMT
Yes, I can see stuff cheaper in London for less than I can locally. My average ticket price for the last few years has been about £18 which is not actually that far off the cost of my "Oliver!" ticket in today's terms. Combination of some top price stuff & opera, some discounts and rush tickets, a lot of off-West End stuff, and a few through the method we do not discuss.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2019 11:38:08 GMT
Yes, I can see stuff cheaper in London for less than I can locally. My average ticket price for the last few years has been about £18 which is not actually that far off the cost of my "Oliver!" ticket in today's terms. Combination of some top price stuff & opera, some discounts and rush tickets, a lot of off-West End stuff, and a few through the method we do not discuss.Yes sexual favours for tickets shouldn't be discussed in polite company. Though sometimes that's what being a critic feels like. |
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Post by david on Jun 11, 2019 17:32:10 GMT
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Post by xanady on Jun 11, 2019 18:34:05 GMT
Always seem to find some way of finding cheaper tickets in London but not so much in the regions.
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Post by Polly1 on Jun 14, 2019 11:37:28 GMT
This. Tickets for Light in the Piazza on Royal Festival Hall website still being sold for £150 - we know that you can buy them for £35 or less, but tourists attracted by Rene Fleming etc, probably won't. Yes, maybe still cheaper than Broadway but invidious in my opinion. But then I suppose if everyone bought tickets at a big discount, there wouldn't be any West End theatre so... |
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Post by londonpostie on Jun 14, 2019 11:55:30 GMT
Well, its on at the height of the tourist season.
I was at the talk recently given by the three leads of the Lehman Trilogy. One American woman told of how the person next to her in New York had paid $2K for his seat. For some, money has a different kind of value.
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Post by crowblack on Jun 14, 2019 12:24:17 GMT
As someone who doesn't live in London and for whom well-in-advance advance train tickets are the only way to travel affordably, I can't take advantage of last minute deals and day seats so very rarely see anything in the West End. It's not a case of simply not knowing any better. |
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Post by Rory on Jun 14, 2019 12:31:51 GMT
Totally agree. I fly from Belfast and have to book months in advance to get affordable flights and accommodation.
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Post by david on Jul 21, 2019 23:14:47 GMT
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 22, 2019 6:50:14 GMT
It’s a disgusting rip off and someone should be cracking down on it.
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Post by viserys on Jul 22, 2019 7:12:26 GMT
Can't read the article behind the paywall sadly.
I think the sky-high prices for (a few very successful) shows would be easier to bear if the money would then flow into the development of new work. For a while at least the likes of Cameron Mackintosh would also produce new stuff like Betty Blue Eyes, so if tourists pay insane sums to see Les Miserables and the locals benefit because they will get to see new musicals, that's fine by me. But I feel that these days the money just disappears into the coffers of greedy global corporations.
The current Great Cull Of Broadway is showing though that people have limits. Half a dozen shows closing after fairly short runs and most of them didn't get anywhere near recouping. And these were only the last in a line of more-or-less-flops that were either jukebox musicals like Summer and now The Cher Show, half-hearted movie adaptations or just inane spectacle (like King Kong). Of the new shows it's only Hadestown that has been able to sustain healthy ticket sales (indubitably buoyed by the Tony wins), wheres Tootsie and Beetlejuice are struggling.
It's also obvious that the most successful shows of recent years were fresh original works like Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen, so clearly there's also an appetite for new things rather than rehashes of old material. So the successful shows can demand whatever they like, while the misfires can't put bums on seats even with generous discounts. I used to be of the "I'll give everything a chance" mind but more recently I've found myself looking at offerings and just shake my head. I'll be back in New York in late August and couldn't find a single new show I was really interested in. Okay, I would have liked to see Moulin Rouge, but regular prices are insane.
Anyway, sorry, back to the point I'm trying to make: With so many misfires and shows that not many people care for, there's even more demand for tickets to the few "really popular" ones, driving prices there. I believe Moulin Rouge can demand the crazy prices they do, because the current Broadway season is so utterly dire.
And it's not that different in London, sadly. Right now what's getting people excited? The talk is about Les Miserables (closing and re-opening), the revival of 40-year old Jesus Christ Superstar and even older Joseph and I guess Lion King is now profiting big time from the new movie. But where are the new big musicals that have everyone excited and clamouring for tickets?
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