What to Know Before Seeing a Show in London’s West End

4 May

In the year 2026, the topic of theatre etiquette is still being discussed as much as ever. By now, most regular theatre-goers know all about the things not to do. Don’t sing along… Don’t eat loud snacks… Don’t make yourself the centre of attention… The list goes on. On the contrary, here are five things to do to ensure a smooth and pleasant trip to the theatre (especially if you are a newbie to the experience!)

When Should I Arrive At The Theatre?

This seems like an obvious one, but arriving on time to a show is essential. If every single person arrives at 7:25 for a 7:30 show time, it’s just not possible for all tickets to be scanned and bags to be checked in time for curtain-up. New guidance brought in as part of Martyn’s Law means that all venues around the country now have even greater security checks for customer safety. If you don’t factor in security time, you might miss the show's beginning. You wouldn’t show up at an airport five minutes before the plane is boarding! Aim to be at the theatre 15-30 minutes before showtime to factor in security, the time it takes to find your seat, and any last minute toilet trips.

How Do I Find the Best Seats for a Theatre Show in London’s West End?

Finding the best seat for a theatre show, especially in the West End, is an overwhelming experience. When you know your budget and what show you’d like to see, maybe you want to know what kind of view you are going to get from your seat? Thank heavens for the folks at SeatPlan who encourage theatregoers to upload a seat view photo and review their experience in return for points!

Can I Bring Food And Drink Into The Theatre?

Contrary to popular belief, many theatres around the UK allow you to bring your own drinks and snacks into the show. However, not all West End venues allow this, so do bare this in mind during you9r visit. Generally, any non-alcoholic drink can be brought in as long as it is fully sealed and in a can or plastic bottle (no glass). If people bring their own reusable bottles, bar teams are usually happy to fill these up inside the venue! Check the website for your local venue for the most accurate guidelines.

What Help Is Available at the Theatre for First-Time Visitors?

If you have any questions or concerns, Front of House staff are happy to help. They’ll have practical information such as running times; special effects; cast information and much more. Rules on filming and photography vary from show to show, so it’s also worth checking the show-specific information before curtain-up.

In order to make theatre more accessible, many theatres now offer sensory kits with things such as ear defenders in case a patron becomes overstimulated. Some venues also have a quiet space to watch a live feed of the show on a screen for anybody who needs to leave the auditorium. Whatever you need, Front of House will try to help!

What Should You Not Do During a Theatre Show?

Everybody goes to the theatre with the same goal: to have a nice time at the show. Unfortunately, sometimes people get a little bit too caught up in their own enjoyment and forget that theatres often have patrons in very close proximity to each other. A few conversations, a bit of arm waving and attempting to sing along to the big songs might seem fun to you, but very distracting to others.

Something else to keep an eye on is your proximity to the accessible seating at a theatre. If you are directly in front of the wheelchair accessible area, maybe hold off your standing ovation until the end of the bows so that those behind you can enjoy the curtain call as well.

Most Importantly… Enjoy Yourself!

Remember that theatre is a shared experience. If you are in a room with hundreds or thousands of people, it’s normal to hear an occasional whisper or a cough; or to have somebody need to leave to use the toilet. Furthermore, theatre-goers with disabilities may have medical sensors that could beep or light up to alert them of important information- not every light in an auditorium is someone on social media. Having said that: if anybody is behaving in a way that is detrimental to your experience, chat to Front of House who will be able to monitor the situation and take any steps necessary to give you as pleasant an experience as possible.

Written by Jacqueline for Theatre and Tonic.

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