Pricing.... I don’t get it.

At least the NT is subsidised and sponsored, I suppose that explains that, but these touring shows that ATG put on. I don’t get it. And there’s none of your London dynamic pricing going on. Apart from ATG card opening night offers and the odd tenner off for the ones that are really bombing, you pay that price.

I've come to that conclusion too kathryn it's usually so much cheaper to get a cheap good seat in London than watching touring productions. Why should I watch a tour where I have to pay a significant amount more for a similar seat or sit in a much worse seat for the same price.

I presume it's to do with subsidies - the Guardian report from a couple of years ago: "combined Department for Culture, Media and Sport and ACE spending amounts to £68.99 per head of population in London and £4.58 in the rest of England."

I go to small studio productions or previews and Liverpool can be slightly more expensive than the same show when it tours Manchester (last year, £16 for a studio show that was £12 in Manchester), so I presume Manchester has better subsidies. Wish List was £12 at the Royal Exchange in Manchester (that was full price - they also do concessions), £25, I think, at London's Royal Court. In those cases I presume the main house ticket prices (Playhouse, RX, Home, RC) also subsidise small / new studio plays with young companies.

This has more or less always been the case, otherwise the producer would be leaving money on the table. Unfortunately, some customers have been proved willing to pay daft prices in recent years.

An economically rational producer would charge the amount they think would bring the most money to the theatre. In a 1,000 seat room, it would be £5k better for them to sell 500 tickets at £50, than 1,000 at £20. If it's a niche show, where dedicated supporters would be happy to pay a premium, but dropping the prices wouldn't necessarily bring in many casuals to the theatre, then higher prices would make sense to them.

The producers also have the advantage, that unlike Burly, most punters won't be aware of the quality of the sets and the size of the orchestra before the event.

In a hall with empty seats, greed wouldn't come too much into it (there would be a fairly steady actual maximum amount of money a Spamalot tour could ever hope to make, however it is priced) - that would be reserved for occasions when you're guaranteed a sell out, and it's a question of just how much you can bleed people for.

Agree with all the above comments - my local ATG theatre prices are ridiculous and almost at West End levels without the deals. I see far more in London that I do locally.

To add to the thread however, I have noticed that even fringe venues in London are charging more and more. The Menier is well known for its high prices but a recent visit to Hair at the Vaults Theatre cost me £30 for an appalling view of the stage (reduced from £55!) The programmes were £6 too - for a fringe venue under a railway line which was very evident throughout the performance! I will not return!

Over £200 for a BoM ticket? You’ve got to be kidding. They didnt spend that much on the entire set!

Have you seen the prices at the Arts theatre for "All or Nothing"!

£81.50 for Manc. And you can hike that up to £96.50 if you want a nibble box and a glass of warm wine included.

Disgusting,

Goodness, I genuinely had no idea. Kinda makes £70 look a bargain. (They also ask if you want to make an additional donation.)

I blame all them footballers and Cheshire housewives!

You get access to The Ambassador Lounge too.  

Sounds like a 1970’s massage parlour. “Always a happy ending at the Amassadors Lounge”. 

That's an ATG venues thing. Sunderland Empire say they're the West End of the North East.