The average ticket price for the top tier ticket for West End shows has grown exponentially since 2019, a time before Covid.
Going to the theatre has always been expensive. It’s largely associated with the middle classes with tickets going for several hundreds for the good seats and things are not looking like they’re improving.
According to a recent study, ticket prices have soared 21% since before the pandemic. The Stage has conducted a survey where they found that the average top ticket price has gone up to £140.85.
The cheapest ticket price went up only 3.3.% to £22.56 since 2019. The West End, and the global theatre industry in general, have been reeling after the several lockdowns and restrictions the Covid-19 pandemic caused.
Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley in Cabaret At The Kit Kat Club
The Stage also noted that “2022 also marks the year with the most ever top price seats in commercial theatres priced over £100 since the survey began. The figure stands at 28, which is 80% of the total number of productions running in commercial venues.”
To Kill A Mockingbird was listed as the most expensive play, with tickets going for up to £199.50. Cabaret At The Kit Kat Club, playing at the Playhouse Theatre, understandably is the most expensive musical in town, with some of the more expensive tickets going for over £300. This is mostly due to the redesigning of the entire venue to accommodate the award-winning production.
Jessie Buckley and Eddie Redmayne starred in the revival of Cabaret and were both awarded Olivier trophies for their efforts. Annie Lennox and Fra Free have since taken over Buckley and Redmayne’s respective roles as Sally Bowles and The Emcee.
