Accessing live theatre, no matter what your budget!

Lately, I hear more and more people suggesting that accessing the arts has become 'elitist' due to the rising costs we all see across the nation. As a singing and drama teacher and singer myself, there is nothing more upsetting than hearing that people feel that they can no longer afford to see live music, theatre or artworks, especially when there are so many groups and initiatives trying to change this. Today, I want to share just a few pointers of how you can access theatre for less.

Just last week, I witnessed a performance of Strictly Ballroom and was saddened to hear of people that would ordinarily see that AND the Strictly tour, now having to choose between one or the other. With funding across the arts being cut, it simply adds more barriers to accessing these performances.

Why are the arts and accessing culture in general important? In recent years, schools and colleges have now got to evidence during an OFSTED inspection, how successfully they expose their students to art, heritage and culture. Clearly it has been identified that there is a need for people to access culture and yet those same bodies are withdrawing vital funds, to allow people to actually access it. How, as human beings, can we possibly make an opinion on things if we don't experience them. I often hear people state that they hate opera and yet have never experienced it. Of course, it's fine for people to not like things, providing they have had the opportunity to witness it and justify that decision. So here are just a few opportunities to access the arts for less.

1) Sheffield Theatres - If you are from the area, there are a couple of brilliant schemes that you may be able to access. If you are 16-26 you can access Live for 5. There are a minimum of 40 tickets per week for the majority of shows in all Sheffield Theatres venues for just a fiver! This is a great way to see new things, support theatre and experience culture. You can find out more here. Alternatively, if you are studying performing arts or English at school (GCSE and upwards), college or university, you can access Ignite, which entitles you to one free ticket and a second ticket for just ￡5!!! You can find out more here.

2) Support local venues - There are loads of way to access music, theatre and even comedy for free. Local pubs, clubs and venues often have live music or performances at no cost to yourself. If you haven't already, see if your local community has a live performance Facebook page to keep you up to date with upcoming performances or simply check out your local venues to see what's happening!

3) The Globe ￡5 standing tickets - If you want to experience something really special, why not consider visiting Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, where you can access ￡5 tickets if you are happy to stand in the 'yard' for the performance. There's something quite magical about standing at the Globe as you feel so much more connected with the performers and the performance in general. There is also so much to take in, in terms of the architecture of the building, the set, the boom of the actor's voices and the history that comes with it. You can find out more here.

4) London's West End - Going to the theatre in London doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. Some of the best theatre I have seen has been from the cheaper tickets I have purchased. Different theatres have a range of discount options including cheaper tickets for 15–25-year-olds and their standby tickets which can be as cheap as ￡5! It is always worth visiting the theatre directly to ask about Standby tickets on the morning of the performance. If, however, you want to get ahead of the game and book your tickets in advance I would highly recommend comparetheatretickets.com. This website compares all of the major discount ticket companies, as well as direct prices from the theatres themselves - why not grab yourself a bargain?

5) Check out Eventbrite - Eventbrite is another fabulous way to find great, unique and even brand new theatrical productions. A simple search can find you multiple events and shows ranging in price, with many even being free to watch.

6) Edinburgh Fringe Festival - Having performed there myself, I can personally say what an amazing experience the Fringe Festival is and again, it doesn't have to break the bank once you get there. There are loads of performances on offer each year, with some bargain ticket prices, but also loads of free theatre and comedy. Don't be afraid to explore the city, find small venues that are slightly further afield, as from my experience, that's where you find the real gems!

7) Don't forget your smaller local theatres - Smaller local venues often showcase local performers and groups and are a great way to connect with and support your local community. Often, prices are lower and some of these venues are often charities, who give back to their community.

8) English National Opera - I saw ENO talk on This Morning last Friday, about how the cuts to the arts are impacting them and their ability to make opera accessible to all. Opera is one of those things that I find people tend to say they dislike, without actually having witnessed it. This makes it so much more important for people to actually access opera to decide do they actually like it or not and whatever the outcome, why? Under 21 year olds can access ENO for free! 5-15 year olds can access 2 free tickets to any ENO production and 16-20 year olds can access 1 free ticket to any performance. Full details can be found here.

So if you're thinking about buying the gift of theatre this year or at least seeing some more of it in 2023, there are lots of ways to make it a little bit more manageable throughout the current cost of living crisis. Thank you for taking the time to read my article and if you've seen any theatre recently, I'd love to hear all about it!

Jess