The orchestra in a musical, the thrill of suspense or the passion of an opera! Who doesn’t love a good play? One of the best places to experience the magic on stage is London’s ‘theatreland’ or as it is more popularly known, the West End district. Shows in West End feature everything from grandiose theatrics of famous stars to subtle nuances of lesser knoawn but often equally talented actors. This means that even if the larger shows are out of your budget, you can still get the taste of Britain’s own Broadway by buying relatively cheap theatre tickets.
If one knows the perfect time and place, it is possible that they may get their hands on discount theatre tickets and enjoy shows which otherwise cost a lot more. Finding such rebates is easier for younger audiences and students. Always remember to carry your student identification card while going out to watch a play. It may just get a you a generous discount n your play tickets.
Many theatres have a quota of tickets which is set aside for students. You may have to stand for the duration of the show, but if chosen carefully it may well be worth it. These discounts are offered to encourage the passion for theatre among crowds of the new generation and raise their interest in an art form that has existed since the time of Greek Kings, Roman Emperors and Egyptian Pharaohs.
During summers many theatres celebrate the ‘Kids Week’. During this week, all children in the age group of 5 to 16 have free entry into the theatres provided that they are accompanied by an adult who purchases a ticket. This time is ideal for family outings and introducing kids to theatre at a young age.
If you are not lucky enough to fall in the above mentioned categories don’t worry, there are other ways to get your hands on cheap theatre tickets. Ticket booths in Leicester Square and Brent Cross Shopping Centre often have discounts. The only problem is that they may not have tickets for all shows and thus narrow down your options. On the other hand if it is your first time in London and you are not very specific about what you wish to watch, these booths might prove to be just what you are looking for. They usually have tickets which are for shows on the same day, but sell them for as less as half the original price.
Online theatre booking portals are the new place to search for tickets. Not only do these websites have a comprehensive list of all the shows which are currently running and their timings, but also provide special offers, deals and discounts, especially if you are booking in advance. Don’t forget to search for multiple websites and compare the quotes to find the best deal. Be cautious, there are many fraudulent websites these days which sell ‘fake’ theatre tickets and con people by offering attractive prices.
One way to check the authenticity of a website is to check their address and call on their helpline before booking the tickets.
Another thing to look out for is the position of your seat. Often cheap theatre tickets have a restricted view of the stage and are thus no fun at all. It such cases it is very likely that you will feel cheated and not really experience a real West End theatre performance. Any agent, booth or website should be able to give you the exact location of your seats.
Although watching a play in London’s theatreland is always worth every penny, there’s no harm in trying to save a few bucks by searching for cheap theatre tickets. With a little research, it is quite probable that you will be able to enjoy a good show without burning a hole in your pocket.