Theatre on a Student Budget

Being a theatre fan when on a student budget can be difficult, especially when living in London with the West End on your doorstep. With this temptation you might find yourself trying to decide whether to eat this week or whether to break the bank and buy tickets for your favorite show. If this is sounding scarily relatable then here are some ticket hacks to help you avoid maxing out your student overdraft.

Day Seats: Many (but not all) theatres release several last-minute tickets on the day of the performance for a discounted price, making them much more affordable than the average price of a ticket. These are known as ‘day seats’ or ‘day tickets’. To access these, you usually need to visit the theatre’s box office around 10am to purchase them in person. Most day seats average at around £10 to £30 depending on the show. Sometimes the view in these seats can be restricted, but for the amount that you have paid you can’t really complain. More often than not you still have a good view of the stage. Do your research and find out which shows offer these and for how much.

Standing tickets: Like with the day seats, many theatres offer standing tickets on the day of the performance. These are only sold once all the seated tickets are completely sold out. They tend to be cheaper because you have to stand for the entire performance, and they are at the back of the theatre. Again, look online to see which shows offer these and for how much.

Returns: Most theatres offer cheaper tickets that have been previously bought and then returned. (Usually because the buyer is now unable to attend.) Visit the box office to see what they have on offer. It’s like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.

Get ‘Appy: Today Tix is a brilliant app that allows you to take part in ticket lotteries for a fair few shows. If you win the lottery, you can buy up to two cheap tickets on the day of the performance. These tend to be very good seats and are often only around £20 for a ticket that might usually cost £80. It isn’t a guarantee that you will win, but it is brilliant when you do. If you don’t fancy taking part in the lottery, you can also buy cheap tickets on there. It has many larger known shows as well as a few lesser known ones, so there is a good selection of shows on there to choose from.

Entry Pass-National Theatre 16-25 Discount Scheme: The National Theatre provides free memberships for 16-25 year-olds (and people outside of those ages providing that they are a student) which allows you to access tickets for their plays for only £7.50. With this membership you can also access a series of exclusive workshops and events. You can find more about this on their website.

Mousetrap Theatre Projects: Like the National Theatre, Mousetrap Theatre Projects also provide memberships for young people aged between 15 and 29. Every month they send you an email telling you the different shows you can see with their discount. These are always between £5 and £15. They also host a series of events and workshops.

Disclaimer: I have not been sponsored by any of these companies. They come under personal recommendation.