Theatre Etiquette - is your group ready?

Thank you for bringing your group to the theatre – we hope you have an amazing experience!

Introducing a young person to the magic of live performance can instil a passion that can last their entire life.

As this may be a young person’s first visit to a theatre, they may not be aware of what to expect, or what is expected of them. We recommend that you open a discussion with your group to review the guidelines below so that they understand how their conduct impacts everyone visiting the theatre, guaranteeing an enjoyable experience for all.

Tickets

Most theatres now offer e-tickets. There is no need to print these as they can be shown on a mobile device for scanning. However, we recommend you provide all members of your group with their seat numbers so they know where they are sitting. You can either:

• “Print” tickets to PDF and provide one ticket to each person,

• Note their individual ticket details on paper. For example, Dress Circle row J seat 5 would be “DC J5”.
  

If you have any problems, don't hesitate to call us in advance on 0208 144 2290 or email enquiries@theatreworkout.com and we can resend them to you.

Arrival

To find out your best route to get to the theatre, we recommend using Google Maps or the TFL website to plan your path. Ensure you enter the correct location and don't confuse the theatres with similar names, such as the Apollo, Apollo Victoria, or Hammersmith Apollo - it happens more often than you'd think!

On arrival, you will pass through our foyers. Please be mindful and polite to others as it can get very busy.

Theatres don’t allow food to be eaten in their bars, foyers or inside the auditorium, so please do not bring food with you.

Groups should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the performance to allow plenty of time to find your seats and get comfortable before the show starts.

Once you have been shown to your seats, use the toilet or purchase drinks before the performance begins. You won’t then disturb others by leaving the auditorium once the performance has started.

Most theatres are now cashless, so please be aware of this if you want to buy anything when you're there.

Some theatres have cloakroom room facilities where you can store bags and coats, but not all, so please make other arrangements for bags and suitcases, or check with us for options.

Behaviour

Teachers, leaders and chaperones are responsible for the behaviour of their group whilst in the theatre. An appropriate number of adults must attend students at all times (including if a student needs to use the toilet during the performance), and they should be seated amongst the group.

We encourage participation, such as laughter and clapping when appropriate, however, young people who are disruptive will be asked to leave with a responsible adult. No refund will be offered for these tickets.

When you leave the theatre at the end of the performance, please move quickly and quietly to the exit as directed by our staff.

Absolutely no photography or filming is permitted during any show.

In most cases you can take photos before the show, during the interval, and after the curtain call, but this isn't always the case. Ask ushers when you get there if/when you can take photos.

Please do remember that mobile devices should be turned off during the show. If you turn them on during the interval, please turn them off again before the second half.

Please also ask your group to refrain from talking during the show - the acoustics are very good, so even whispering can disturb other audience members.

Likewise, if you buy snacks or drinks, do not open or consume them during the performance. Theatres have great acoustics and the noise of sweet wrappers or fizzy cans being opened will travel.

Please ensure that you treat all staff with respect throughout your visit. Theatres will not tolerate aggressive or abusive behaviour towards staff or other audience members. They can remove you if they feel your behaviour is unacceptable.

Young people

Unless specifically for young children, no West End shows allow children under the age of 3 years, and some have recommendations for minimum ages of 5+, 8+, or for adults only. This will usually be on their website, but you can ask us if your not sure.

School groups must be accompanied by supervising adults, ideally with 1 adult per 8-10 children.

Upgrade your Experience

Looking to add some extra flare to your visit? Most theatres now have private hospitality spaces which are perfect for relaxing before the curtain goes up or during the interval, with food and beverage options.

You can also pre-order interval ice-creams, drinks and programmes to be brought to your seats at some theatres. Contact us to arrange this.

Accessibility

Most theatres in London are quite old buildings, and while most have been adapted to have accessible seating, not all theatres are step-free. Disabled guests may need to use a different entrance and accessible seating might not be where you expect it to be. Any access requirements must be requested in advance to ensure you are seated in the right place, especially for wheelchair users - If you need to stay in your wheelchair, seats may need to be removed for you, so please contact us to make arrangements.