News, reviews, features and podcast on theatre across the UK
The British Theatre Guide Newsletter
No 1211: 11 May 2025
Editorial
I had an e-mail from one of our newsletter subscribers last week to say that he wasn’t getting the full newsletter; he was getting my editorial but not the headlines.
I do get a warning from our e-mail sending service every week that the newsletter is too long and that some e-mail services, such as Gmail, will cut the end off when displaying it. But if you can’t see this newsletter down to the unsubscribe link at the bottom, you can still see the whole thing as a web page in your browser if you click on the link at the top of the page marked “Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser”.
Philip Fisher this week has reported on the show that has broken box office records on Broadway for a play, earning more than $4 million in a week. The fact that it is the Broadway debut of one George Clooney may have something to do with it, but to achieve those sorts of figures for just eight performances in a 1,500-seat theatre, the ticket prices would have to be pretty high. In fact, the booking fee alone is $22, which would get you roughly one and a half banquette seats—the ones only available to buy on the day of the performance—for Abigail’s Party at the prestigious Royal Exchange Theatre here in Manchester.
I’ve expressed my views on booking fees many times before, from this newsletter to the This Morning couch on BBC TV, but I will still mention that Love Theatre is offering no fees on all shows booked between 9 and 18 May. Anything booked via the link in this newsletter or those on our web site will earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you. While I don’t believe booking fees should be charged at all—the supermarket doesn’t charge a fee for selling you your groceries on top of the cost of what you have bought—they are a reality and so this is a genuine offer.
On that particular spot on This Morning some years ago, we also talked about something the media likes to feature from time to time: the high cost of theatre tickets. As I said then, and still applies now, that depends on where you look—the West End isn’t all there is, and in fact is a small proportion of the theatre seen every week across the country (although you wouldn’t think so to look at most theatre awards nominations).
I had a quick look at some of my local theatres, all leading North West producing or receiving houses. You could pay nearly £100 to see Mary Poppins at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, but prices start at around a third of that. For just over half that top price, you could see the aforementioned Abigail’s Party at the Royal Exchange in a top-priced seat, or for a little over half that again, you could see Pride and Prejudice at the Octagon in Bolton or The Taming of the “Shrew” from HER Productions at HOME Manchester. All with the dreaded booking fee on top, but still, good, affordable theatre is available.
Finally, we are also an affiliate of Bookshop.org, which supports independent bookshops with every purchase, and this weekend they will put you into a draw to win a £250 gift card for every book you buy from them. Again, we will earn a small cut of what you spend with them through this link.
Hayman tours as Miller's Willy Loman Actor David Hayman and director Andy Arnold on the current touring production of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman
Jamie Cullum is to compose the music for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Laura Wade’s adaptation of W Somerset Maugham's play The Constant Wife.
Two Pints Belgrade Theatre with Double M Arts and Events at Belgrade Theatre
Here We Are Tom Kirdahy, Sue Wagner, John Johnson and The Stephen Sondheim Trust, co-produced with The National Theatre at National Theatre (Lyttelton Theatre)
Tambo & Bones (Actors Touring Company, Stratford East and Royal & Derngate, Northampton in association with Belgrade Theatre, Leeds Playhouse and Liverpool Everyman) - Leeds Playhouse, Leeds, –
In Search of Goldoni (Beyond Face Production in association with Theatre Royal Plymouth and Impossible Producing) - Sterts Arts & Environmental Centre, Liskeard, –
Tina – The Tina Turner Musical (Stage Entertainment, Joop van den Ende and Tali Pelman, in association with Tina Turner) - Grand Opera House, Belfast, –
