Thursday Theatre Thoughts: The Financial Accessibility of Theatre
Gabrielle Hammond
Hello theatre gang,
Today I won't be talking about a particular musical or theatre show per se, but instead a discussion of accessibility finance wise within the theatre world, and the pros and cons of bootlegs.
Theatre should be for everyone who wants to enjoy it and experience it. But in a world of everything getting more expensive by the minute it seems, is this actually true anymore?
Going to a theatre show in the West End IS expensive, it's not a question of maybe. Because if you live away from London, it's not just the ticket itself, it's the travel/transport there, the tube, the food and drink and maybe even the merch you want to get once you're there. It can add up to a hefty sum.
It is sad that theatre seems to be no longer affordable, with many shows cheapest ticket not going below £40 for a Saturday show. And even then, that's out right at the back of the theatre with the view being limited. You're looking at £100+ for a day’s trip with all the extras too.
The best seats in the house for a Les Misérables Saturday show are £225 each and that is crazy money! Don't you think?
Now we get onto the issue or perhaps the greatness of bootlegs/slime tutorials, as they are called in theatre world. These are videos of whole shows and musicals taken from an audience member, albeit "illegally", and put onto YouTube or elsewhere so people can access them. This allows everyone to access theatre whether they can afford a ticket to the show or not. However, this is not actually legal as such, and begs the question of is this right to do? It's also distracting for the actors on stage and for the people around the person recording it trying to enjoy the show. But, it is amazing to be able to offer the wonderful world of theatre to everyone.
I am not saying the shows don't deserve the love or aren’t worth the price. They are phenomenal, but in a world where we have to budget for everything, will theatre lose its audiences and interest? Or will it just become a privilege for people of higher status who have lots of money they can spend on rituals like theatre?
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