At the theatre

Relax! A trip to the theatre is a real treat, so to ensure you get the most from the trip leave anything that might be worrying you at home.

Make sure you arrive at the theatre at least half an hour before the curtain goes up to give you sufficient time to pre-order drinks and soak up the atmosphere. Several shows actually start entertaining the audience before the curtain goes up so be sure to find your seat early.

A trip to the theatre isn’t just about what happens on the stage. Many of London’s theatres are listed buildings featuring impressive architecture and original décor so make sure you take it all in.

Participate

Don’t be afraid to get involved. Show your appreciation for the cast and orchestra by applauding at the end of each number. Many upbeat musicals have even the most reserved members of the audience on their feet and dancing in the aisles by the end of the show. And don’t leave your seats and forget the encore! There’s always time for one last big number to bring the house down, get the audience on their feet and send them off in style.

Drinks

Theatre bars can get very busy during the show interval, so savvy theatre-goers pre-order their drinks before the show starts. Simply place your order with the bar staff, pay for the drinks and they will have them poured and waiting for you at the interval.

Being in the heart of London’s West End, most theatres have coffee shops open late nearby. So if you fancy a nice cup of tea or coffee at the interval why not pop across the road? Assuming there’s not a long queue you can be back in the theatre in plenty of time for the start of the second act.

Staying comfortable

With the excitement of the show, the stage lights and so many people in the audience, London theatres have a tendency to get quite warm and as listed buildings most of the older theatres don’t have air conditioning. If you have a tendency to feel the heat, then make sure you dress appropriately. Heat rises, so the higher your seats the warmer it’s likely to be. The coolest seats will be found at the ends of the aisles in the stalls.  In bad weather all theatres have a cloakroom where you can leave umbrellas, coats and bags rather than cluttering the aisles in the auditorium.

Take a bottle of water with you, or buy one on arrival, in case you get thirsty during the show.