London’s West End Ticket Prices See 21% Price Hike

[Robbie2]

Posted: 6/25/22 at 12:26pm

BWAY next?

https://deadline.com/2022/06/london-west-end-theatre-cabaret-ticket-prices-21-per-cent-increase-1235052029/

Updated On: 6/25/22 at 12:26 PM

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 6/25/22 at 12:28pm

That’s BEEN happening on Broadway. For way too long.

[quizking101]

Posted: 6/25/22 at 12:46pm

…and yet its somehow not as bad as here (or as my friends have told me, in many, many touring houses).

I actually had a friend be shocked when I was able to get him tickets to COMPANY, INTO THE WOODS, and A STRANGE LOOP on a budget of $250 and they told me that they paid $179 for the HADESTOWN tour when it came around to them. (And didn’t even get to see Levi Kreis, who they love).

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 6/25/22 at 12:49pm

Broadway isn't next because our prices were already much higher than in London. 

[Wick3]

Posted: 6/25/22 at 3:06pm

I read the article and it also had this quote/statistic:

"Lower-priced tickets have risen by just 3.3% in that same period, with prices of around £22 ($27)."

 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/25/22 at 4:43pm

Is UK actors equity minimum wage abysmally low ?

[windowwaving]

Posted: 6/26/22 at 10:52am

I remember thinking how wonderful it was that West End tickets were so reasonable on my last trip to London, especially compared to NYC/touring prices. 

It did make me wonder if actors/employees were being compensated fairly enough, but I thought it was great for people who just want to see a show. 

I was so happy to get DEH standing room for £15 that I saw it twice. 

[JasonC3]

Posted: 6/26/22 at 12:11pm

I don't have anything other than my own anecdotal experiences over the years to back it up, but I consistently find London box offices being very flexible with ticket prices when it is close to the performance hour.  Asking "what's the best you can offer right now?" has gotten me many great deals.

Updated On: 6/26/22 at 12:11 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/26/22 at 12:24pm

Obviously I can’t say this for all West End theaters, but you really can walk up to a lot of box offices an hour before showtime and get a cheap or very discounted tickets on whatever they have left for that evening. It’s always been true that here on Broadway, shows have a set amount of rush tickets and they will not go beyond that, no matter how empty the house is for a performance.  

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 6/26/22 at 12:27pm

It's been a while since I've been to London so I can't speak for exact prices there now, but in general prices have always been much lower on the West End than on Broadway. I remember getting a center mid-stall (orchestra) seat to Evita 15 years ago for only around 40 dollars. Yes, that was 15 years ago, but I certainly don't remember any Broadway show 15 years ago that was offering mid-center-orchestra for $40. So while I don't doubt Broadway will continue to raise prices as they always do, I'm guessing this is more West End producers just catching up to the prices Broadway is charging.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/26/22 at 12:41pm

What’s happening there is what has been happening here for a long time. A show comes in, becomes popular and charges a ton of money and then all shows follow suit, raising prices across the board to match the rare “sell-out” phenomenon. 

[ggersten]

Posted: 6/27/22 at 7:32am

Jordan Catalano said: "Obviously I can’t say this for all West End theaters, but you really can walk up to a lot of box offices an hour before showtime and get a cheap or very discounted tickets on whatever they have left for that evening. It’s always been true that here on Broadway, shows have a set amount of rush tickets and they will not go beyond that, no matter how empty the house is for a performance."

We got excellent center stalls seats to & Juliet an hour or so before performance for 25 pounds each on a Friday night. By just asking nicely. The Box Office person even said "what's your budget?" and sold us for less than the number I gave her!   

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 6/27/22 at 8:54am

I went to London in Jan 2019 and was SHOCKED how cheap their tickets were compared to Broadway. I paid 40 euros For Company (Row P orch) and 42 for Mamma Mia (front row center). Without discounts! Couldn’t believe it lol. Wish I had time to see MORE Theatre while I was there.