The West End is not too expensive

621PM GMT eighteen March 2010

Mesmerising Mark Rylance as "Rooster" Byron in Jerusalem at the Apollo Theatre Photo ALASTAIR MUIR

Last week the party censor Robert Gore-Langton used this mainstay to bewail the cost of party tickets in Londons West End, after he paid �104 to buy a span of seats at the at the back of of the stalls for Jez Butterworths fool around Jerusalem, that eliminated not long ago from the Royal Court to the Apollo. As the party writer (with the Royal Court) at the back of the transfer, Id similar to to urge my ticketing process and inspect either West End party tickets are in all as well expensive.

For me, the really critical that immature people and those who cant equates to to compensate tip prices can get in to see my shows, and I regularly safeguard that an volume of cheaper tickets are accessible each day. Not each writer believes in you do this (after all, were not using charities), but I do. At the moment, were offering twenty day seats at usually �10 each for each opening of Jerusalem that is extraordinary, since that the fool around has been such a hit. We additionally have a intrigue called "Pay What You Like", in that you spin up at the box bureau and compensate what you can for seats in the front row of the balcony. We even had dual people who paid one penny each to see the show admittedly, the front row of the patio are not great seats. Concessions are additionally accessible both on the day and in advance.

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The wider point, though, is that West End tickets are not expensive, generally since the volume that producers have to compensate in sequence to put on a show. The West End is an costly business. There are all sorts of dark costs majority party operators take �1 as a "restoration levy" for the maintain of the theatres. In fact, producers usually see about 75 per cent of the sheet cost and thats prior to the costs of using a prolongation have been taken in to account.

Before you can speak about profits, you have to replenish these costs. Take Jerusalem. It cost in the segment of �375,000 to send (this total went towards the set, re-rehearsals, marketing). The show is usually on for twelve weeks, but it costs in in between �100,000 and �110,000 each week to run. And Jerusalem is comparatively inexpensive. These days, a new fool around in the West End costs in in between �450,000 and �500,000 to put on from scratch. Depending on the scale, the using costs of a fool around can be up to �120,000 a week.

The droll thing is that, notwithstanding the recession, the party industry is abounding at the moment. In the past, in times of recession, party regularly offering an escape. You couldnt equates to to go on legal legal legal holiday or buy a new car, but you could set in reserve a bit of income to have a treat.

But whats engaging right right away is that fool around is you do so well. Im not articulate about fool around with big movie stars I meant hard-hitting, severe party that comments on society. This is since we are vital in times of uncertainty, both politically and socially, and we are seeking to the writers for answers.

A fool around similar to Jerusalem ticks nothing of the boxes you competence think youd need to sell a show to an investor. There are no big movie stars; the not a obvious title; it doesnt run at 90 minutes. Its an epic piece, Shakespearean in scale and using time, with a large expel and dual intervals, and incredibly clever language. It breaks all the rules. But it tries to answer the subject of what it equates to to be English in 2010, and audiences are queuing up to see it.

People are still rebuilt to compensate for theatre. They wish party and they wish nourishment. And party producers similar to me yield it. Of course, the not altruistic. I need to have a vital and consequence income for my investors. But there are ways to buy affordable West End tickets.

Visit whatsonstage.com and lastminute.com. Go to the sheet booths in Leicester Square, that have offers each day. Finding a great understanding involves digging around, but the no some-more difficult than engagement a flight. If you phone British Airways direct, theyre going to assign the tip price. But if you track around a bit, youll find an offer. Somewhere, for majority shows, theres regularly a deal.

Sonia Friedman is a West End and Broadway party producerJerusalem is at the Apollo Theatre, London W1 (0844 412 4658), until Apr 2