What do people wear to the theater in London?
May 4th, 2011, 10:37 AM
#3
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"Personally, I'd wear jeans and something a step up from a t-shirt."
Many of don't see the point of anything "a step up" from anything else. But if we wear a suit to work, we'll keep it on for the theatre.
"Whatever you like" means exactly that. If a man's more comfortable in shorts and sandals, that's what he'll wear. If he's going on to a fancy dress party afterwards, he'll wear the Mickey Mouse suit to the theatre beforehand. And this being a civilised city, no-one will even notice.
Many of don't see the point of anything "a step up" from anything else. But if we wear a suit to work, we'll keep it on for the theatre.
"Whatever you like" means exactly that. If a man's more comfortable in shorts and sandals, that's what he'll wear. If he's going on to a fancy dress party afterwards, he'll wear the Mickey Mouse suit to the theatre beforehand. And this being a civilised city, no-one will even notice.
May 4th, 2011, 10:46 AM
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Whatever you would wear in NY, is what you should wear in London. It has been my experience in NY and London that there is a wide range of dress-- people coming from fancy dinners in business suits to tourists who have been wandering the city all day in khakis and confortable shoes. No matter what you wear, you will fit in.
May 4th, 2011, 11:54 AM
#5
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Agree with all above.
As in NYC, the level of formality in dress for theater is now quite varied--informal work fine, if you are ok with it!
For me, entering a London theater for first time in decades, the casualness was a bit of a shock!
As in NYC, the level of formality in dress for theater is now quite varied--informal work fine, if you are ok with it!
For me, entering a London theater for first time in decades, the casualness was a bit of a shock!
May 4th, 2011, 12:06 PM
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Why would it be different than New York? The two cities are very very much alike in some many different things as much as this might annoy Londoners....I have my official tourist uniforms...blue jeans (no holes), sneakiers (trainers), t-shirt (clean), baseball cap (to protect my receding hairline from the sun), coach's jacket which fits in my carrying bag where I store my half time refreshments, purchased before entering the theatre generally a 500 ml bottle of diet coke cherry, walkers potato chips and an aero mint bar. As a courtesy those sitting behind me, I remove my baseball cap. Don't feel the slightest out of place. That's the way I dress for the theatre in New York and that's the way I dress for the theatre in London.
May 4th, 2011, 12:16 PM
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>>If he's going on to a fancy dress party afterwards, he'll wear the Mickey Mouse suit to the theatre beforehand. And this being a civilised city, no-one will even notice.<<
You will if you're sitting behind and those bloody ears block your view.
>>It has been a few years since DH and I went to London theatre but we were able to bring our drinks to our seats.<<
It used to be a tradition for afternoon matinees to supply tea, on a tray, in the intervals, to people in their seats.
You will if you're sitting behind and those bloody ears block your view.
>>It has been a few years since DH and I went to London theatre but we were able to bring our drinks to our seats.<<
It used to be a tradition for afternoon matinees to supply tea, on a tray, in the intervals, to people in their seats.
May 4th, 2011, 01:12 PM
#10
When you arrive at the theatre -- go into the bar (there are often several - pick the one nearest to your seats) and pre-order drinks for the interval. That way it will be waiting for you and you won't have to fight through the scrum at the bar during intermission.
As for what to wear - whatever you have on at the time. Those sitting next to you on one side may be in a business suit/cocktail dress and on the other side in jeans/flip flops/tank top.
As for what to wear - whatever you have on at the time. Those sitting next to you on one side may be in a business suit/cocktail dress and on the other side in jeans/flip flops/tank top.
May 4th, 2011, 01:20 PM
#11
Anything and everything. Some folks on this thread say it as if it were some kind of natural law, but it wasn't always this way, at least in New York. Years ago I used to get dressed up to go to the theater in New York, but now it's whatever I'm wearing at the time. Same thing in London.
And they wander around the theater in London selling ice cream at intermission, and you can bring it to your seat, which feels oh so wrong and yet oh so right.
And they wander around the theater in London selling ice cream at intermission, and you can bring it to your seat, which feels oh so wrong and yet oh so right.
May 5th, 2011, 07:38 AM
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Slacks/pants and a nice shirt/blouse is fine. You will see almost anything at the theater. I saw Phantom of the Opera last April and there were people there with jeans, t-shirts, and tennis shoes. Don't even think about taking a suit, it will just be something more to carry that you don't need.
May 5th, 2011, 08:36 PM
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These reply's were very helpful, thanks! Traveling to the UK in July from the US. Just got tickets to the Wyndham to see Much Ado About Nothing and was nervous after a day of touring, then heading to the theatre.
Lisa
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