Pamela Raith via London Theatre Direct<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
London\u2019s geography can be confusing. Most Londoners answer to where they live give nothing more than a compass direction like \u2018I\u2019m out East\u2019 \u2013 and don\u2019t even get us started on the tube map! While the name would suggest that theatreland is out West, it\u2019s actually more in central London. It has the name West End because it is located directly to the West of central London, but now that London has expanded so much, most people would consider this very central.<\/p>\n
The West End, which is also known as theatreland, is in the middle of the triangle of restaurant-filled Soho, historic St James\u2019s and retail heaven Covent Garden. The nearest large train station is Charing Cross, but it can also be accessed by the numerous surrounding tube stations, the closest of which are Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square. Most of the West End theatres are on one street \u2014 Shaftesbury Avenue \u2014 which has six theatres.<\/p>\n
While the West End is the place where all the big shows are being performed like The Lion King<\/a>, Hamilton<\/a> and Matilda<\/a>, there are theatres across London where you might be able to see more alternative plays and shows, often at a lower cost or with audiences.<\/p>\n
How long is a theatre interval?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
An interval is a break in the middle of a play or musical, where the audience has a chance to stretch their legs, use the bathroom, get a breath of fresh air and maybe get a drink or snack. It also is a chance to do any big set changes on stage and for actors to change costumes. Not all shows have an interval, so it\u2019s important to double-check before booking. Especially with musicals, you\u2019ll probably hear a big number just before the interval, and often in plays, there will be a cliffhanger event to make the audience excited to return to their seats for the second half.<\/p>\n
Typically, plays and musicals last anywhere from an hour and a half to three hours including the interval. This first half will likely be slightly longer with a shorter second half. The length of time a play or musical lasts is known as the running time, and these include the time for the interval.<\/p>\n
Intervals generally last around half an hour. A bell will ring around the theatre to indicate to the audience that it\u2019s time to return to their seats for the second half, so don\u2019t worry \u2013 you\u2019re unlikely to miss it! If you have to leave during a performance, many shows won\u2019t allow you to return to the auditorium so as not to disturb the actors and distract the audience so try and make sure you have everything you need when you take your seat.<\/p>\n
What are the most famous West End theatres?<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\""best\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
London Theatre Direct<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nThe West End is, of course, famous across the world, but which theatres are the best known? Well, the oldest West End theatre still in use is the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, which first opened in 1663 and was the first place where people heard the National Anthem. It is currently the home to Frozen the musical<\/a> \u2014 from the National Anthem to \u2018Let It Go\u2019 is quite a history!<\/p>\n
The London Palladium, which is slightly further west on Argyll Street just the other side of Soho, is famous for the TV show Sunday Night at the London Palladium, which ran in the \u201950s and \u201960s. The London Palladium will soon be home to The Wizard of Oz<\/a>, starring Jason Manford and Ashley Banjo, which opens on 23rd June.<\/p>\n
St Martin\u2019s Theatre is well-known because it has been home to the longest-running show currently on the West End, Agatha Christie\u2019s The Mousetrap<\/a>, which has been there since 1974.<\/p>\n
What time should I arrive at the theatre?<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\""The\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
National Theatre Live<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nA good rule of thumb is to arrive to the theatre about half an hour before the show is scheduled to start. This will give you time to have a look round the theatre \u2014 many like The Gieldgud<\/a> have ornately decorated foyers \u2014 and buy a programme before finding your seat. As we\u2019ve already mentioned, many productions won\u2019t let you in once the show has begun so you definitely don\u2019t want to be late.<\/p>\n
Programmes are a booklet which provides information about the show like who is playing which role, photographs from the rehearsal process and interviews with the creative and production teams. As they can be quite pricey, usually around the \u00a320 mark, they\u2019re definitely not a must-have to enjoy a show but can be a great keepsake.<\/p>\n
Can I take photographs of a West End show?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The short answer is no, you aren\u2019t allowed to take photographs of a West End show. Whether it\u2019s on your phone or with a camera it won\u2019t be allowed, and you\u2019ll likely be asked to stop by one of the front-of-house stewards or even asked to leave. Most shows will have signs at the beginning of a performance indicating that filming and photography aren\u2019t allowed and asking you to turn off mobile phones to prevent any disruption.<\/p>\n
There are some instances where you might be allowed to take photos during the curtain call \u2014 when the cast comes out to take a bow at the end \u2014 but this is quite rare.<\/p>\n
Where to eat in London\u2019s West End?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
If you plan your timings right you can enjoy an amazing meal as well as take in a show when your in the heart of London. Since the West End is so central, there are unlimited options of where to eat at pretty much every price point, and catering to every palette.<\/p>\n
If that amount of choice is a bit overwhelming (and we can\u2019t say we blame you!) our friends at olive.com have done some of the hard work for you, with guides to the best restaurants near Oxford Street<\/a> and where to eat and drink in Covent Garden<\/a>, both of which are just a short walk from the West End.<\/p>\n
Can you eat and drink in the theatre?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Yes, most theatres will let you eat and drink while in the theatre, with many having bars where you can buy a tipple and a snack before the show or in the interval. It\u2019s also not unusual for stewards to have small tubs of ice cream available to buy during the interval.<\/p>\n
It might raise a few eyebrows if you\u2019re eating anything that\u2019s too noisy and potentially disruptive to other people in the audience so maybe leave the pork scratchings at home.<\/p>\n
What is a pre-theatre menu?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Restaurants near theatres often take advantage of the crowds coming to a show by putting on a pre-theatre menu. Since most evening shows start at 7:30 and with a pre-theatre menu you can get a quick, early bite to eat before doing a short walk to the theatre.<\/p>\n
Most pre-theatre menus will be two or three courses of a set menu, at a set price.<\/p>
How to buy West End tickets?<\/strong><\/h2>\nYou can buy tickets for West End shows from lots of ticketing sites including Ticketmaster Theatre<\/a>, London Theatre Direct<\/a>, ATG Tickets<\/a> and LOVEtheatre<\/a>. If you\u2019re on a budget have a read of our guide to how to get cheap theatre tickets<\/a> where we have tips on saving some money.<\/p>\n
Check out our Going Out<\/a> section for things to do in London this summer. We\u2019ve got everything from our guide to the best LGTBQ+ experiences for Pride month<\/a> to how to get Sex and the City the experience tickets<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n
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