A Younger TheatreThe festive season is in full swing and with it all the financially stressful trimmings.
With the growing issue of theatre tickets becoming outrageously expensive, what should be available as a stress-release and escape from the excessive amount of scheduled quizzes, secret Santas, work dinners and parties, has entered a void of impossibility for the working every(hu)man.
In light of this, we felt it was time to produce an updated resource of how to access cheaper tickets as a young person, not just in London, but across the country. Here at A Younger Theatre, we feel that no matter what time of the year, your age or where you are from, theatre should always be accessible to all. You never know, we might even be able to help cross a gift off your list by treating someone to a discount ticket.
The idea of this index is to be a quick checklist of what’s on offer; whenever you go to book tickets make sure you’ve had a glance at this. You might just save that bit of extra money which you can put back into your theatre fund for next year. Or buy a whole yule log and eat it. It’s nearly Christmas after all. And even if it wasn’t, it would still be ok. Cake is always ok.
TICKETING TIPS AND TRICKS
Day Tickets
Theatres hold back tickets to release in the mornings for the performances that day. Always check the theatre website for details about queuing, opening times and amount of tickets.
TIP: Make friends with the people either side of you in the queue. If you are stood there for a long time and need to run to find a toilet, they will be your allies upon returning.
TIP: Do your research. Know how much you are willing to pay. You’ve had hours in a queue to think about this, don’t be a desk dawdler when you finally get to the box office, it won’t do you any favours.
Rush Tickets
On a specific day of the week some theatres will release a limited amount of discounted tickets for the following week of performances.
TIP: Rush are often released online as well as at the theatre box office. Bear in mind that people can often get tickets on the internet much quicker than a box office can work through a queue of people. It is better to try online than waste a lunch break. Lunch is yummy.
TIP: If buying online, always log in to your account first and get onto the web page five/ten minutes before release of tickets. This will set up you up with the best chance.
Preview Tickets
If you book tickets for the preview performances they will be offered at a reduced rate. Previews are often venue and production dependent, with larger scale shows having much longer preview periods.
TIP: Preview tickets will sell often sell out. However, most venues will keep back production holds which will be released mid-afternoon on the day of the performance. Check online around this time for a chance to get tickets.
TIP: After the first couple of previews venue’s will often release seats held off for the rest of the run in case the set blocks people’s vision or lights need to adjusted. Always check back for extra tickets online after the first few days of a performance.
For an A-Z of Theatre Ticket Schemes, please visit our Offers page, here. Always happy to help.
A-Z THEATRE TICKET SCHEMES
UNDER 30S – £15 tickets available Mon-Thurs Evening and Wed and Sat Matinees
25 AND UNDER – £5 tickets (2 max) for selected performances on Mondays and Tuesdays
ISLINGTON FIRST – £25 tickets for opening performances if you live/work in Islington Area
YOUNG ARCOLA – £15 or £10 tickets
STUDENTS AND 26 AND UNDER – reduced prices post previews
PAY WHAT YOU CAN TUESDAYS
YOUNG BARBICAN – £5/£10/£15 tickets for 14-25 year olds
SOUTHWARK – Discounted tickets residents (from £3)
NEW AND NURTURED – book three new shows at the same time for £25
HELLO ERDINGTON/LADYWOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD – £7 tickets for nearby residents
YOUNG BRIDGE – 16-25s access to £15 and £7.50 tickets for every show
STUDENTS – £8 tickets
COUNT ME IN – £10 unreserved tickets available (you’ll be allocated a seat on the day)
BUSH CONNECT – discounted tickets for students/under 26
PROLOGUE – £5 tickets for 16-25 year olds
THEATRE IN THE POUND – £1 tickets for monthly scratch nights
YOUNG + FREE – free tickets for following months performance by ballot
TRY IT FOR A TENNER – £10 standby tickets from 12pm daily
ACCESS ALL ARIAS – £10-£30 tickets for students/16-29 year olds
UNDER 30s –first week tickets from £6
KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA – reduced rate for first Saturday eve of main productions
HIGH FIVER – £5 tickets for under 30s available from 6:30pm daily
UNDER 30s – £10 tickets for every performance
UNDER 26 – £10 tickets available
CURVE 16-26 – free membership for access to discounted tickets (2 max)
FRIDAY FIVES – £5 tickets for shows at 5pm on Fridays
Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse
YEP Members – £5 tickets for 14-25/students
FREE FIRST NIGHT – Free tickets for the first night for people who live/work in Hammersmith and Fulham
UNDER 26/STUDENTS – £7 tickets every night
Entry Pass – £7.50 and £10 tickets for 16-25 year olds
UNDER 25/STUDENTS –£15 concessions available for selected performances
PWC PREVIEWS – £10 tickets for preview (2 max)
UNDER 30s – £15 tickets available for all performances
N TUESDAYS – discounts for local postcodes on Tuesday performances
PARK UP – £10 tickets for the first week and £5 daily rush tickets for under 26
STUDENTS/UNDER 18s – discounted tickets for select shows
BREEZE – £10 for 18-25 year olds (£10 one time joining fee lasts until 26th birthday)
£12 MONDAYS – All seats £12 released at 9am on day of the performance online
YOUNG COURT – £15 tickets for Under 26s
BP £5 – £5 tickets for 16-25s in Stratford-upon-Avon and London
STANDING – £5 standing tickets
UNDER 18s – £3 discount on seated tickets
LIVE FOR FIVE – £5 tickets for 16-25 across the venues released first Friday of the month
STUDENTS/UNDER 16 – 25% discount on tickets
DISCOUNTS – Students/Under 16s reduced rates mon-thurs and matinees.
SW11 – Two £2 tickets for first visit and £10 on following performances.
RUMOUR – £5 tickers for 16-25
OPEN CONCESSIONS – £5 tickets available for anyone who feels they would truly benefit from the reduction.
LUCKY DIP- £10 standing tickets will be upgraded if a seat becomes available.
UNDER 25/STUDENTS – £10 tickets for every production