Ticket prices post covid

Question

Have ticket prices really dropped in real terms since before COVID, or is that just wishful thinking?

rohit · Answer

Umm it really depends on the show. The big names like Hamilton, Book of Mormon, and Cabaret keep their lotteries going because they know demand is huge, but the discounts don’t always feel “cheap”. It's more like a chance to grab a central seat at less than half the usual price. Musicals at the bigger houses (Wicked, Mamma Mia!, Frozen) tend to have decent day-seat schemes, especially midweek. Plays at places like the National or Almeida can be even better value. £10 or £15 rush tickets pop up quite often.

user · Answer

Interesting point about the discounts. Are there particular shows or theatres where day-seat or lottery deals tend to be more generous, or is it pretty much across the board?

rohit · Answer

Ticket prices on the West End haven’t really dropped in real terms since before COVID, but the landscape has shifted a bit. In fact, the average face value for big-name shows (think Hamilton, Wicked, Les Mis, or newer productions like MJ the Musical) has stayed high, and premium seats are arguably pricier now than in 2019.

What has changed is the frequency of discounts and day-seat offers. Post-pandemic, producers are keener to keep theatres full, so you’ll often find flash sales, lotteries, and discounted tickets on sites like TodayTix or through official day-seat schemes. If you’re flexible with dates and seating, you can end up paying less than you might have five years ago, even if the listed price hasn’t gone down.

So, in short: no, tickets aren’t cheaper in absolute terms, but with all the discounting and offers floating around, the real experience for bargain-hunters is better than it used to be.