Tickets on me

I would just like to register how impressed I am with how closely-guarded comp tickets are in this town. Impressed but not intimidated, that is. Recently, I publicly declared my intention to secure  - for free  - one of the hottest, priciest tickets in town before I return to Australia next year. That's right, despite the fact that not even the director of the lovely office where I am based was able to secure a comp for War Horse at the National Theatre - I am not deterred!

Sorry but I am just not used to paying for my theatre tickets! If you think that sounds lush, think of it this way: if you work in a bakery you get free bread, if you work in fashion you get free clothes, if you work in finance you get free money. And tickets are usually fairly easy to come by. In fact the Sydney theatre world trades in two types of currency: tickets and cases of beer (premium, not light - very important). Here, apparently, the theatre world trades on just the one form of currency: currency. People buy their tickets!

There is a very strong market in 'half price' tickets here. Outlets such as TKTS which offer discounted tickets on the day of the performance are part of the fabric and a first port of call for the many, many tourists who make up the West End audiences. Somehow, buying from a half-price ticket booth makes the purchase feel special and exclusive whereas, if the producer were to halve the ticket prices at the box office, you would start to wonder what's wrong with the show.

Perhaps a half-price ticket booth would benefit the Sydney scene - one in the middle of the Rocks to catch the tourists. It would give producers the opportunity to grab those last minute sales and maybe even negate the need to throw around so many complimentary tickets. What am I saying? Next I'll be paying for tickets at home too! Eek!

In the meantime I will continue to intone my mantra to the free ticket gods and offer fresh fruit and coffee grounds at their feet. I still have faith. War Horse... War Horse... War Horse....

By the way, caught Avenue Q on its way out of the West End. Bit of an indulgence as I'd already seen it in Sydney. Not as snappy as I remembered it but never mind: I only paid half price for my ticket :)