Theatre visits: Lone wolf or pack animal?

90% of the time i go alone. That said, i still don't feel 100% comfortable about it becuase I was thinking about this yesterday when i was in the theatre and started wondering if anyone around me was wondering or finding it a little odd that i was on my own. Because after all these years of going on my own i can't believe that it still obviously sometimes crosses my mind or bothers me. It's silly really.

I'm going alone to The Colour Purple on Sunday evening. Actually thinking about it i think that it's more those types events it creeps in. I remember going to see a singer at the Palladium last year and i think gigs or concerts feel a little bit more exposing for a solo visit than a theatre performance. Maybe that's just me.

It is a bit odd going to a 'gig' on your own, but I've been quite happy going to my local theatre solo for a few years now. I used to book groups for theatre trips at work and it was a flipping nightmare collecting money, sorting tickets etc. I took redundancy/early retirement a few years back and although I was asked to carry on, didn't and find it soo much easier to go only at a time/price/date that suits me. It is nice to have a like minded friend with you though, so once or twice a year I book a few days in London and drag my long suffering husband along and occasionally a good friend but obviously have to fit in with her commitments.

haha I'm glad I'm not the only one who does that sort of things. My previous job was filled with Brexiters and narrowminded types of all sorts. So it was delightful to tell tales of what I'd been watching that weekend. 

Also great fun can be had with those types when you can have this conversation:
'Oh you have a PhD? what's it on?'
'AIDS' 

Then watch them either squirm a bit and say 'oh' and walk off. Attempt to ask an awkward question, or make an inappropriate remark (which I then cut down)

This is a really interesting thread. When I lived in London I ended up going to see nearly every show on my own for the various reasons other posters have said i.e. easier to organise, could see what I wanted, not having to hope friend liked it. Even when a show was sold out or the hot ticket I would still manage to get just one ticket.

Does anyone find it different outside of London though? I haven't been solo to my local theatre and I feel like I would stand out if I did. Part perhaps as I think I may bump into someone I know and be embarrassed but also they tend to have all the big jukebox shows or tours which I'm either not interested in or have already seen

I don't think it's been mentioned before but there's a difference going solo as a woman and as a man. Even in 2017 a woman on her own is much more likely to be approached by someone with a cheesey line, an offer of a drink, a compliment or a pretend question to initiate conversation. This happens even when reading, on the phone, listening to music, or standing behind a 10 foot electrified fence with Keep Out written on it. I think that can put some people off in addition to any other issues

As a somewhat mature woman, I have never batted an eyelid at going to the theatre alone. As so many have already said, in almost every way I prefer it. I can choose what I want, go when I want (either booking up months in advance or spontaneously deciding to dayseat) and plan the day around it.

However, when I was younger (several decades ago, it has to be said), I did encounter similar problems to pault - but never at the theatre. In the street, on the Tube, and as for the cinema (remind me to tell you about the dirty old man with the raincoat).... But as I grew older, this stopped, and I realised it was all to do with confidence - when I looked and felt nervous, that's when I was accosted. As the confidence grew, the unwanted pestering stopped. Now, of course, I am too old to warrant anything in that line - although I concede that restaurants can be a bit of a problem. Coffee shops and sandwich bars are fine, but I don't like going into a restaurant solo (this probably goes back again to when I was young, and sat for what seemed like hours trying to get the waiter's attention while all around me people got served). As for hotels, if I know the hotel, I would stay in it alone, but I'm not so sure I would if it was a first time visit. Just my thoughts.

Things "up north" I tend to go with friends or family but in London I go to lots by myself. Mainly as others won't pay the prices for travel etc from the north and I like to have freedom to do my own thing around the theatre. Might sound selfish but I count every minute down in London as time to make the most of as much as possible and would rather grab a sandwich etc. If I was with others it would be hours in restaurants.

Although if a show is announced which has a layout of "tables" it does fill be with dread and can often stop me going. I did be brave recently and went to Rachel Tuckers show at Zedel and ended up sharing a table with three lovely ladies, one who was, incredibly, from the same small northern town as me. Ended up having a really great evening.

I pretty much always go alone these days. I’m not sure I prefer it as such, it’s more a result of my circle of friends not really having an interest in theatre, and as others have said it’s much easier to organise when you’re only trying to please yourself and fit it around your own schedule.

I go to quite a few gigs and I have a mate that I go to most of these with, but if there’s a band that I want to see and he’s not interested I’ll go on my own. I sometimes feel a bit out-of-place if it’s a new band with a young fan base but I generally find if you stand at the back of the hall you’ll see other older folks hanging around there sheepishly.

The only time I’ve really been nervous about going was similar to shady23’s Zedel example, it was at a jazz club and had the table and chairs format, but it turned out fine, they actually had two or three “solo” tables and stuck me on one of those.

I go to the theatre by myself most of the time, for the reasons listed above. I also go to gigs on my own without batting an eyelid. I've seen Beyonce, Pink, Kelly Clarkson and Florence & The Machine by myself (please don't judge my musical taste :-P). Admittedly I think I would have enjoyed them even more in a group, but my friends don't like the same singers I like and I'm not prepared to miss out just because I have no one to go with. Anyway, once you've had a few drinks you don't care!

I do a lot of things by myself, I've been on holiday by myself a few times. The only thing I'm not really comfortable with doing alone is eating in a restaurant.

I go to the theatre on my own. I go on holidays on my own. I go to the cinema on my own. I go to fitness classes on my own. I eat in restaurants on my own.

I'm not a loner but when I want to do something I often just can't be bothered to start asking around if anyone wants to come along (and happens to be free at the exact same time as I am). Yes, I love doing stuff with friends but I would never miss out on anything just because I have no one to join me.

I can eat alone in a restaurant, but it very much depends on what my anxiety levels are doing that day. Theatre or cinema on my own is fine, 'cos once I've picked up my ticket I don't have to interact with anyone beyond a possible "excuse me, please" on my way to my seat. Restaurants, though,...I know in my head that they don't really care that I'm alone as long as I don't start crying (or giving any other indicator that I'm alone because I've been stood up and am upset about it), but there are days when I just can't quite handle requesting a table, placing an order, asking for a bill, etc. Fast food joints are a godsend on days like that, especially now you can order a McDonald's through a computer terminal.