6 Things New Theatre Goers Need to Know
I’ve worked in the customer-facing side of theatre for a really long time when in between acting jobs. And in that time I’ve seen the same misconceptions come up with first time theatre goers. So today, in this short post, I’m going to share 6 of the most common ones I’ve come across.
So whether you’re a theatre newbie yourself, or have friends who don’t know what to expect, here are six things that new theatre goers need to know.
The time on the ticket is when the show starts
Many first time theatre goers are used to going to concerts where there’s often a supporting act, or the cinema with adverts before the film starts. But in theatre, the start time is the time on your ticket. So make sure you arrive in plenty of time so that you don’t miss the beginning of the show.
You can’t sing and dance along
A musical with the music of your favourite artist is not the same as a concert. It’s a play with music telling a story. Singing and dancing along is distracting for other audience members as well as the cast and crew, depending on where you’re sitting.
Many jukebox musicals, like Mama Mia! and Moulin Rouge, have sections at the end of the show where you have the opportunity to sing and dance.
Buying on the night doesn’t guarantee cheap tickets
A lot of people think that if they rock up a few minutes before the show starts, they’ll get cheap tickets. This isn’t always the case. Most theatres have dynamic pricing, which means the prices fluctuate depending on availability. But how much prices change is at the discretion of the producer of that particular show.
Whilst some producers would rather reduce prices to have a sold out show, others would rather maintain the prestige of a production by keeping prices the same.
You’re buying a ticket for the show, not a particular performer
This applies particularly when a celebrity is in a show. Unless a performer’s name is above the title on the billing, a production is not obliged to give you a refund if an understudy is on for a performance, even if you’ve paid hundreds in travel, hotels and tickets to see your favourite TV star.
“Restricted View” means restricted view
Whether you book online or in person, you will be informed if certain seats have a restricted view. If you book at the box office, the clerk can also explain the nature of the restriction: whether there’s a pillar in the way, a side view, or restriction from the upper level overhang. Restricted view seats are often cheaper compared to clear view tickets; if it’s a lot cheaper, that indicates how restricted the view likely is.
The bottom line is this: restricted view tickets are going to have a worse view. And there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to swap them for better seats on the day of the performance.
If you want to check your potential view before buying a ticket, seatplan.com shows you the view from each seat.
If you’re scared of heights or can’t do stairs, don’t book the Grand Circle or Balcony
The Grand Circle and Balcony are above ground level, usually the third and fourth levels of a theatre respectively. In large venues, these levels can be very high up. But even in small and mid-sized venues, the upper levels can be quite steep, making them feel higher. A good example is the Savoy Theatre on The Strand in London; it’s a mid-sized venue at under 1,200 seats, but the circles are very steep and not great for vertigo sufferers.
The majority of theatres also don’t have lifts. As listed buildings, installing lifts is logistically difficult. So if you can’t do a lot of stairs, avoid booking seats in the Grand or Balcony levels.
What was you’re biggest learning curve on your first theatre visit? Leave a comment below and let me know!