West End Theatre Tips for a Broadway Fan

[MattRVA]

Let me start by acknowledging, yes, I know there is a dedicated board for West End topics, but it’s rather, um, quiet over there. Also, I’m looking for the perspectives of regular Broadway patrons who have also visited Theatreland. I don’t post terribly often, but I’ve come to value the opinions of many on the Broadway board and would welcome their insights and recommendations.

My wife and I are strongly considering a winter trip to London, which would include catching HADESTOWN along with several other shows, with CAROLINE, OR CHANGE and MATILDA being strong contenders. I wonder what advice folks would offer for someone’s first trip for theatre across the pond. Are there particular discount sites you have found useful and reliable? Interesting differences in the crowds/customs/etiquette compared to those on Broadway? Smaller, regional theatres worth visiting? Even restaurant recommendations would be welcomed. Thanks!

[UncleCharlie]

You'll get a better response if you ask this on the West End board rather than the Broadway board.

[RippedMan]

Hey! I went last year, and I LOVED it. They have a TKTS over there, but theater in London is way cheaper than here in the states. Most theaters have "day tickets" - basically their version of rush, so that's worth asking at most of the box offices. Or you can just look online and see how cheap a lot of the seats are. There's a ton to see in the West End and the National is across the river, which is an easy walk. 

http://theatreboard.co.uk/ is the board that I used when I went. Basically the BroadwayWorld of the UK. Ask questions and read up and see what's playing, etc. 

[MarkBearSF]

You might want to check Theatreboard (registration required) for active chat on London shows http://theatreboard.co.uk/

Another handy site is Theatremonkey which has extensive info on legroom and comfort in those old theatres. http://www.theatremonkey.com/BuyorAvoidIndex.htm

Another handy one is What's on Stage https://www.whatsonstage.com/

The equivalent to TKTS are booths in Leicester Square. 

Orchestra level is called "the stalls" and most theatres do not have aisles (so bear that in mind when looking at seating charts). And mezz is "dress circle" and upper mezz/balcony is Upper Circle. Also intermission is "interval"

There are no free playbills and fewer standing ovations than NY

I don't think that there is sole sourcing for tickets (as opposed to telecharge or ticketmaster) and will-call is more common. Resale is less common (with special procedures for HP and Hamilton)

They'll drop the fire curtain briefly by law. People like to eat ice cream and many theatres sell champagne packages and deliver stuff to the seats. Drinks make Broadway prices seem reasonable.

 - Mark

[oh-bwayhereicome]

I studied abroad for a semester 2 years ago and saw 40 shows in 3 months. Tickets are soooooo much cheaper there, especially when you look into day/rush tickets. Obviously you should prioritize shows that are exclusively there, but if there's a Broadway show that you've been dying to see, you'll see it cheaper in London. Lotteries are also much less popular. I won the Book of Mormon lottery pretty easily, since only 15ish people showed up. I say the major theatre companies worth seeing are the National Theatre (multiple times if possible), Globe, Southwark Playhouse, Domnar Warehouse, Royal Court, Old Vic, Young Vic, and if you want to take a day trip hit up the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-Upon-Avon. People also don't stagedoor there, unless for the big celebrities. When I saw Gypsy with Imelda Staunton, there were only like 5 people waiting to get signatures.

[Miles2Go2]

I echo the use of the TKTS booth as well as buying day tickets at the box office. I would beware of other vendors near Soho/West End/Piccadilly that appear to be selling discount tickets as well. I don’t know this for a fact, but I suspect they may not be offering discounted tix and prices may instead be marked up. Your choices seem very solid. I have decided to avoid most West End revivals of big musicals from Broadway’s “Golden Age” although I did adore Funny Girl in 2016. It was my first West End musical on my first day of my first trip to London. Enjoy! I have also loved some straight plays, most notably The Flick at the National Theatre (although I don’t know if their shows are listed at TKTS; I bought my ticket for The Flick at the box office).

[Patty3]

Yes, there are no Playbills but most shows have programs that cost around 5 GBP. They are full color but also have some advertising. Makes a nice souvenir. They have lotteries and Friday Forty for many shows. I was able to get last minute tickets that way for Follies last summer. I've used the TKTS booth and it is pretty good and not as crowded as NY.  I use Theater Monkey to look at seating choices and what discounts may be available. I use the official London Theatre website for general info. You can search for start and end dates for a specific timeframe and you will see what is on. https://officiallondontheatre.com

Also look into the Globe - many of their plays have transferred to Broadway. I signed up on The Globe and National Theater websites to get emails about upcoming shows. And the UK Broadwayworld board can be quiet at times but keep checking it anyway.

[Mister Matt]

If you want to check what is being offered at TKTS: https://officiallondontheatre.com/tkts/

I have had success with getting discount tickets in advance from a couple of sites, including Time Out.

https://www.londontheatredirect.com/discounts

https://www.lastminute.com/theatre/

https://www.londonboxoffice.co.uk/cheap-theatre-tickets

[Wick3]

I echo everything stated above. They also have TodayTix app there in London.

Whenever I go to London to see West End I normally buy full price for the shows I *really* want to see (I max that category to 2 shows per visit). I recall paying 70 GBP for a 3rd row center orchestra seat to see Everybody's talking about Jamie. For a similar seat in NYC, that would have cost me at least $200. For the remainder of the shows, I normally use TodayTix or TKTS.

For London's Harry Potter, I always do the returns queue (their version of cancellation line) as I've gotten great stalls seats for 90GBP per part (for a similar seat on Broadway, it would be $299 per part!) Crazy price differences, right? Oh and for London's harry potter, the balcony area is the 4th floor (not 3rd as that would be called the Grand Circle.)

Enjoy and have a great time! I'm thinking of  going to London for a week every year or every other year to get my theatre fix! :)