THEATRE TIPS
Selected by CHRIS HAYES
SEE A SHOW AT YOUR UNIVERSITY
Sure, it might not necessarily be professional-level theatre, but your university is likely to have a drama society, so why not support your fellow students and see them in a play? Cardiff University, RWCMD, Cardiff Met and USW – if you’re in Cardiff – not only have you got your own university’s theatre groups, but the others’ too! Who knows? You might be seeing a future Hollywood or West End star.
SEE IT IN THE CINEMA
This sounds like an odd one, but believe it or not, you can see National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Opera House productions in your local cinema or arts venue. It’s a bit pricier than your regular cinema ticket, but it’s cheaper than an overnight trip to London!
RISK A STANDBY
Some theatres will sell off remaining seats at a lower price just before the performance. At the New Theatre in Cardiff, students can get heavily reduced tickets on Mondays and Tuesdays from 6pm, depending on availability.
New Theatre, Park Place, Cardiff. Info: 029 2087 8889 / www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk
GET YOUR GROUPON…ON!
At some point, you’ll start to feel the pinch as your student loan runs dry and even student prices might seem a little steep. Check sites like Groupon to see if there are any deals on for upcoming performances – they might work out cheaper!
Info: www.groupon.co.uk
DON’T LOOK AT JUST THE MAIN THEATRES
Smaller venues, too, sometimes host fringe-style performances, so you might find that the fancy coffee-cum-wine-bar also has theatre. One example is Porters in Cardiff, which for the last couple of years has had a dedicated theatre, The Other Room, which has put on award-winning productions.
The Other Room at Porter’s, Harlech Court, Bute Terrace, Cardiff. Info: 029 2128 0189 / www.otherroomtheatre.com
READ BUZZ!
This one’s a bit cheeky, but you need to know what’s on, right? Why trawl through each theatre’s website’s listings, when we do the hard work for you? Buzz keeps up-to-date listings on the website, so you’ll always know what’s on.
Info: www.buzzmag.co.uk
GO TO THE OPERA
Bear with me a second before you skip past this one. Opera might not be for everyone, but if you are in Cardiff, you are in a very fortunate position being so close to the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay, where the Welsh National Opera puts on its productions. Better still, the WMC offers £5 tickets for under 30s to go and see the opera, and this is not limited to the cheaper seats – if you can get in early, you can find yourself sitting in some of the priciest seats in the house!
Bute Place, Cardiff Bay. Info: 029 2063 6464 / www.wmc.org.uk
SEE IF THE THEATRE HAS A STUDENT MEMBERSHIP SCHEME
Some theatres have a membership scheme for students, which are often free in order to promote the attendance of young people to the theatre. For example, Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff have a card which not only gives discounts to plays (and films – it’s a cinema too!), but also gives you a 10% discount at the bar. Winning.
Chapter Arts Centre, Market Road, Cardiff. Info: 029 2030 4400 / www.chapter.org
REMEMBER YOUR STUDENT CARD!
If you have decided to go last minute and haven’t had time to do your research, fear not. Most theatres have concessionary rates for certain groups, and the good news for you is that students are often included!