Theatres woo young

Medea: Cheaper prices for under 25s

The ticket prices for one of the West End's most popular plays are being slashed for 18-25 year olds in an attempt to encourage more young people into the theatre.

Director Deborah Warner felt strongly that she wanted young people to be closer the action and not sitting somewhere at the back

Nica Burns, Medea producer

Fifty top price £35 stalls seats for Euripides' tragic drama Medea, starring Fiona Shaw, are being reduced to £10 every night.

It is a sign of increasing worry throughout the threatre industry that high ticket prices are putting off young people.

"Medea has had an extraordinary reaction from colleges and young people," the play's producer Nica Burns told BBC News Online.

"Director Deborah Warner felt strongly that she wanted young people to be closer the action and not sitting somewhere at the back."

The new reduced ticket prices were introduced this week, despite the already popular uptake of cheaper stand-by tickets minutes before curtain up.

"It would be terrific to catch the imagination of a young person who would never normally go to see a Greek tragedy," added Ms Burns.

"After all, what can you buy for £10 these days? It won't even get you into a football match."

Diversity

In a similar move, the Royal National Theatre will next month start selling pre-bookable tickets for Monday-Thursday shows for £15 to the under-25s.

"There was a recognition that the stand-by ticket system wasn't sufficient," Royal National Theatre spokeswoman Lucinda Morrison told BBC News Online.

But she added that it wasn't just cheaper seats that were a draw for young people.

"We aim for diversity. Putting on new work from playwrights like Mark Ravenhill also does more to attract young people," she said.

But those seeking to seat themselves in the thick of the action at Medea should be warned.

Producer Nica Burns says several audience members have fainted at the sight of all the stage blood.