Cheap theatre ticket discussion

[MSE Jenny]

What’s this about?

The first point of call is read the full Cheap Tickets guide. Then, this discussion is specifically to talk about tips for

Theatre tickets

If you want to discuss ticket booking in general, please go to the Cheap Tickets guide discussion. For concerts, go to the Gig tickets discussion.

If you’ve got a suggestion/tip

Simply click reply and add your suggestion, though its worth scanning down first to check it's not been duplicated.

[davidgh]

Frequently cheaper than 50% off or 2 for 1 at London theatres is to benefit from group rates' discounts on the top price seats. Minimum numbers range from 8 to 15 with most at 10. Advance planning also helps secure the best location of seats. this is possible even if you are notpart of a formal group.
If you already have a group or would like to benefit this way without finding a group do email dghshowtrips@hotmail.co.uk for emails with full details putting - theatresave in subject line.

Love Never Dies (the sequel to phantom of the Opera) releases information on its world premiere Adelphi Theatre London March 2010 and Broadway November 2010 in a big press launch 8 October. We already have a queue of folk for tickets!
Les Miserables celebrates is 25th Anniversary week 4-9 October 2010 Queen's theatre London and we 79 folk have booked various performances through dghshowtrips including a resident of Australia who will be at 2 performances!

[patrick0]

One thing that I'd thoroughly recommend to Londoners is The Audience Club. They sell seats for shows the theatre can't fill. Theatres want as many seats as possible filled as it's better for the cast and it means more alcohol/snack/programme sales.

I've been a member since October 2008 and have seen 28 plays/shows so far.

The majority of the shows are fringe ones - usually in theatres attached to pubs, though I've seen 3 major West End shows for £2 since I've been a member. I would list the shows I'd seen but it's a condition of membership you don't disclose the names of the shows on sale.

Angela who runs it is wonderful. She often gives away free tickets and answers any questions via email or phone. She sends out an email several times each week with a list of what's new. There's normally 15-25 shows available at any one time.

Shows currently on sale range from plays (these are usually the majority of options), children's dramas, orchestral music & choirs. You can see some of the venues they've provided tickets for if you visit their website.

You pay a yearly membership fee and then pay £2 for each ticket you purchase. Yearly membership is:

• max 2 tickets per show: £35 for key workers or £50 standard
• max 4 tickets per show: £75 (this is what I'll probably get next time as it means I can take friends as well as my partner)
  

I think it helps if you live reasonably close to central London as getting home late at night can be a bit of a hassle if you live far away. Though there are plenty of shows available on Friday/Saturday nights.

I'd add that I've got absolutely nothing to do with TAC, I'm just a very satisfied customer.

[anna42hmr]

i have always found www.broadwaybox.com/london really good for london discounts and www.theboxoffice.com is also not bad (see tickets discount arm)

[davetrousers]

Is this thread leaning towards West End / London Theatre or theatre up and down the land?

[Kez100]

For London we used the website 'whats on stage' and managed to book £48 tickets for £29.50 (plus £1 postage for the total order) a month in advance. We were given the seat numbers so we checked out the seating plan first before deciding to buy. The service was really good and we received the tickets within a few days.

[inspector monkfish]

BILLY ELLIOT (London West End - Victoria)

If you don't mind sitting in either of the front 2 rows, you can get tickets for £25 each.

they class it as 'restricted view' because you are height level with the stage, but I took the missus and we found that it was a great view and felt like you were more involved with the actual show, being so close (could see actors expressions better etc...)

[p00hsticks]

Originally Posted by davetrousers

Is this thread leaning towards West End / London Theatre or theatre up and down the land?

Hopefully, what we make it. Personally I live in Stoke, and would recommend anyone in the area who likes going to the theatre to become a 'Friend of the Regent'. It costs £20 a year and for that you get 2 for one 1 tickets for most opening nights and reductions on other nights. You can more than cover the price of the membership in two trips.

Looking up a link to post here, I've discovered that similar schemes seem to run in many of the theatres run by the Ambassador group, both in the West end and in regional theatres.

Links to the various theatre schemes are here

http://www.ambassadortickets.com/con...cleID=136&fp=1

[anna42hmr]

we are also members of the hippodromefriends membership at the birmingham hippodrome, we have joint membership for £40per year for 2 of us, and save at least 80-90 per year after the membership fee took off, as we always have £5 off tickets, plus a lot of buy one get one frees etc

also theatres run by livenation/clear channel have membership service as well

[silvercar]

The half price ticket booth now has a booth in Brent Cross. Great if you live in North London as you can see what is available before travelling to the west end.

[ali1972]

That's probably to replace the one they closed down at Canary Wharf

[inspector monkfish]

anyone know what happened to Footloose The Musical?
my kids loved that.....

[Amontylado]

Enjoy a night at the theatre for free at venues across the UK if you are under 26.
Whats the deal?

Get free tickets to see a theatre show of your choice if you are under 26, with the new 'A Night Less Ordinary' scheme from the Arts Council England.

Over 200 venues across the UK will be giving away thousands of tickets to anyone under 26 who fancies a free evening at the theatre.

A great array of events will be available, from comedies and tragedies to modern mime and live circus.
How do I benefit?

Visit A Night Less Ordinary and type in your postcode to find a participating theatre near you. (www.anightlessordinary.org.uk)
You can then visit the site of your chosen venue, have a look at what's on offer, and book your free tickets online or by phone.
Expiry

This offer is valid until March 2011.
Conditions

To be eligible for free tickets you must be aged 25 or under.
Tickets are subject to availability.
For full terms and conditions of the scheme see your chosen venue's website

[ali1972]

Originally Posted by inspector monkfish

anyone know what happened to Footloose The Musical?
my kids loved that.....

Think it's on tour somewhere. Certainly it was due to go out on the road last year.

[xwordqueen]

May I add my wholehearted recommendation to join the AudienceClub. Xlnt service, fantastic selection of shows.

[madabouttheatre]

I can thoroughly recommend Whatsonstage.com as a group that's worth joining. Pay for the full £30 p.a fee and not only will you receive the monthly hardcopy of what's coming up in the theatre world, together with your weekly email update but you will have some incredible value for money evenings. Outings where you get top price seats, a free drink and programme and meet the cast (in may cases enoying a drink with them after the show or sitting in on a Q & A session) for circa £30. There are also many free shows offered up (£3 handling fee)- last one we saw was Mark Little in 'Defending the Caveman' and possibly the best were the freebies to the O2 to see Andrea Botcelli perform (face value on tickets was £125!!). Spread the word

[willhoward13]

Has anyone tried booking the Spring Awakening offer on Hit The Theatre? It's best seats for only £20 (plus a £1.50 booking fee).

I'm canvassing opinion as keen to know where our clients are coming from on this one!

Thanks,

Will.

Hit The Theatre

[ali1972]

TKTS were offering seats for Spring Awakening this morning.

[laura-lovecat]

In Scotland folk under 26 can get tickets for 10 pounds. You go to the Scottish opera website and click the link for under 26's. Sorry but I can't post links!

[lorweld]

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