Even more than New York, London is the theater capital of the world. Few things in London are as entertaining and rewarding as the theater. The number and variety of productions, and the standards of acting and directing, are unrivaled. The London stage accommodates both the traditional and the avant garde and is, for the most part, accessible and reasonably affordable. The new Globe Theatre is an exciting addition to the theater scene.
To find out what's on stage before you leave home, check www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk.
Prices for shows vary from £18 to £70 ($28-$109), depending on the theater and the seat. Matinees, performed Tuesday through Saturday, are cheaper than evening performances. Evening performances begin between 7:30 and 8:30pm, midweek matinees at 2:30 or 3pm, and Saturday matinees at 5:45pm. West End theaters are closed Sundays.
Many theaters accept telephone bookings at regular prices with a credit card. They'll hold your tickets for you at the box office, where you pick them up at show time with a credit card.
Ticket Agencies -- If your heart is set on seeing a specific show, particularly a big hit, reserve way in advance through one of London's ticket agencies. You can check www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk to find out what will be on stage when you're in London. For tickets and information before you go, try Global Tickets, 234 W. 44th St., Suite 1000, New York, NY 10036 (tel. 800/223-6108 or 212/398-1468; www.keithprowse.com). Their London office (which operates under the name of both Global Tickets and First Call Tickets) is at the British Visitors Center, 1 Regents St., W1 V1PJ (tel. 020/7014-8550), or at the Harrods ticket desk, 87-135 Brompton Rd. (tel. 020/7589-9109), opposite the British Airways desk. They'll mail your tickets, fax a confirmation, or leave your tickets at the appropriate production's box office. Instant confirmations are immediately available for most shows. A booking and handling fee of up to 20% is added to the price of all tickets.
Another option is Theatre Direct International (TDI) (tel. 800/334-8457, U.S. only). TDI specializes in providing London fringe theater tickets, but also has tickets to major productions, including those at the Royal National Theatre and the Barbican. The service allows you to arrive in London with your tickets or have them held for you at the box office.
Gallery & Discount Tickets -- Sometimes gallery seats (the cheapest) are sold on the day of the performance. Head to the box office early in the day to purchase these tickets and, since these are not reserved seats, return an hour before the performance to grab good seats. Many theaters offer reduced-price tickets to students on a standby basis. When available, these tickets are sold 30 minutes before curtain. Line up early for popular shows, as standby tickets get snapped up quickly. Call the theater directly to find out if gallery, discount, or standby tickets are offered for a particular show. Of course, you'll need a valid student ID for student discounts.
The Society of London Theatre (tel. 020/7557-6700) operates the tkts booth in Leicester Square, where same-day tickets for many shows are available at half price or 25% off, plus a £2.50 ($3.90) service charge. tkts also sells full-price same-day tickets for shows that are not offering half-price or 25%-off tickets. In addition, the booth often offers a limited number of seats for shows that are usually sold out. Tickets are available for any of 55 theaters, including the English National Opera and the Royal Opera House. All major credit and debit cards are accepted. Tickets (limited to four per person) are sold only on the day of performance. You cannot return tickets. Hours are Monday through Friday from 10am to 6pm. We prefer this ticket agency to the others that populate Leicester Square. Some of the other agencies might offer you a legitimate discount, but over the years readers have lodged dozens of complaints that their so-called discount tickets turned out to be more expensive than tickets sold at the theater box office. Exercise caution when purchasing tickets at other booths.
Fringe Theatre--Some of the best theater in London is performed on the "fringe" -- at the dozens of theaters devoted to alternative plays, revivals, contemporary dramas, and musicals. These shows are usually more adventurous than established West End productions; they are also consistently lower in price. Expect to pay from £10 to £30 ($16-$47). Most offer discounted seats to students and seniors.
Fringe theaters are scattered around London. Check the weekly listings in Time Out for schedules and show times. Some of the more popular and centrally located theaters are listed below; call for details on current productions. Also check www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk and www.londontheatre.co.uk for current fringe show schedules and descriptions.
Tired of Broadway revivals and English mystery plays that have been running since Queen Victoria occupied the throne? Theater buffs are discovering the Soho Theatre and Writers' Centre, a forum for new works in London's Soho district. A former synagogue was converted to make way for this 200-seat theater, plus a restaurant, brasserie, and bar. This is the new home of the Soho Theatre Company, founded in 1969 and credited with launching many successful British playwrights. The theater is at 21 Dean St., W1 (tel. 020/7478-0100; Tube: Tottenham Court Rd.). Tickets range from £5 to £20 ($7.75-$31) and box office hours are Monday through Saturday 10am to 6pm.
