Quick Guide for First Time London Theatregoers

With a wider range than ever of wonderful theatre shows being put into production, an increasing number of people are choosing to add in a visit to London’s West End when visiting the city.  Whether seeing a showstopper is the primary reason for your visit or you are just looking for an entertaining evening during your trip, there are many good reasons to include a visit to the theatre, not least because the West End is one of the best theatre districts in the entire world.

For first time theatregoers however, it can be confusing to understand the ticket booking process, how to get the best deals and the protocols for on the night of the performance and that’s why we have put together a handy quick guide which will take you through some of the more common and pressing questions you may have:-

There are a number of ways you can book tickets for the show; either by telephone, online, from the theatre’s box office in person or at a ticket booth such as TKTS in Leicester Square.  No one option is the best although we would say that if there is a particular show you wish to see then book your tickets in advance to avoid undue disappointment.  If you are unsure about seating arrangements or the differences in ticket pricing then call the box office; the ticket clerk will be only too happy to assist in helping you.  If you have a strict budget (and tickets to popular shows can be quite costly) then consider purchasing seats which have a slightly restricted view (usually the far side of the stage is the part you can’t see) or choosing a seat higher up in the stands as well.  Discounted tickets are available from the TKTS booth in Leicester Square but this is really only a viable option if you are flexible about the production you see and the time and date too.

Most theatres will take the usual array of debit and credit cards (exclusing Visa Electron) as well as cash payments if you are buying in person.  If you have any doubt then again, give the theatre a call and check in advance.  If you are travelling from overseas then check that you won’t incur any additional charges by using your debit or credit card to make a payment.

Once upon a time, a trip to the theatre meant dressing up in your finest clothing but these days things are a lot more casual unless you happen to be lucky enough to be attending opening night of a headlining show.  You will find a whole spectrum of outfits are worn from those dressed casually to those dressing up for an evening out.  Whatever makes you most comfortable will be fine.

Generally only food and drink which has been purchased inside the theatre may be taken inside.  Prices can vary but it’s usually not the cheapest so think carefully about your budget before you go.  Many restaurants in the West End area offer pre-theatre dining packages which can be a great way to have a meal and fill up before the show begins.  Many hotels in the nearby area will also offer similar packages or you may prefer to ask the hotel staff if they have any recommendations; a good hotel such as the BW Premier Park Grand London Kensington should have no problems recommending somewhere in the local area where you can grab a bite to eat ahead of your show’s start time.

Use of any photographic equipment, camera or video camera, is strictly prohibited and you may have your equipment confiscated or be asked to remove the images/recordings before you are allowed to leave.  There are several reasons for this: to protect the copyright of the show and also because a mistimed camera flash could interfere with the cast or dancers on the show.

Traditionally a ringing bell sounds out across the auditorium and foyer 5 minutes before the curtain goes up.  This is your signal to take your seats.  If you fail to take your seats before you may find that you are asked to wait outside until the interval as the theatre staff will want to minimise disruption.  It is very important therefore that you arrive in plenty of time ahead of the production’s advertised start time.  Half an hour spent in your seat waiting is surely better than missing the entire first half of the production after all.

These are usually in the back of the seat in front and require a £1 coin to be inserted before the glasses will be released so be sure to bring some change if you don’t have your own glasses to bring with you.  Remember to return the glasses after the show has finished but don’t try and store them in their slot before you are finished with them; otherwise you will have to pay another £1!

This is a tricky one and there doesn’t seem to be a right or wrong answer.  Generally, applause takes place after each act or at the interval but you will occasionally find a spontaneous ripple of applause taking place if the audience feel that something has been particularly moving.  If you are unsure we would recommend doing nothing and waiting until there is a general consensus around the room.

One final tip; depending on the type of show you are going to see it might pay to read up a bit of the background so you understand what is happening on stage, especially if English isn’t your primary language.  Modern adaptations sometimes obscure important details and you might find yourself lost if you haven’t got a basic grasp of the plot.