Self Esteem says efforts to make West End more accessible ‘aren’t going that well’

Self Esteem has questioned whether efforts to make theatre more affordable are really working, arguing that the soaring cost of tickets risks putting live performance out of reach for many audiences.

The singer, whose real name is Rebecca Lucy Taylor, is currently starring in David Hare's Teeth 'N' Smiles at the Duke of York's Theatre.

While the production offers tickets from £25, top seats can cost more than £130 — and it remains one of the more affordable options among many high-profile West End productions.

Speaking to The Standard, the artist was frank when asked whether the industry was succeeding in broadening access.

“I don't think they're going that well, it's not, it's quite expensive,” she told us at this month’s Ivor Novellos.

“But Music is. Like everything is expensive, but what I don't get is who makes the money, not in theatre necessarily. I know in music I don't, but someone does.”

There are schemes designed to make theatre more accessible. Venues including the Bush Theatre and Arcola Theatre offer low-cost tickets from around £10, while Shakespeare's Globe still sells standing tickets from £5.

Some major productions, including Romeo + Juliet starring Noah Jupe and Sadie Sink, have introduced weekly lotteries that allow audiences to secure seats for as little as £1.

But for many theatre-goers, the reality is that the best-value tickets are often snapped up within minutes, which Vicky Jessop explored last month for The Standard.

The wider issue is the sharp rise in ticket prices across the industry. According to The Stage, the average top-price ticket for a West End play increased by 50 per cent between 2023 and 2024, rising from £94.45 to £141.61.

Two decades ago, the most expensive West End seats typically cost between £50 and £60.

Last year, a survey by the industry publication found ticket prices continuing to rise, while premium seats for some productions reached eye-watering levels. During the run of Giant, starring John Lithgow as Roald Dahl, tickets were reportedly listed for as much as £436.

The artist is currently starring on the West End in David Hare's Teeth 'N' Smiles at the Duke of York's Theatre (Helen Murray)

The debate has also been fuelled by the growing use of dynamic pricing, where ticket costs rise in response to demand.

Following the backlash surrounding Oasis's reunion tour tickets, which saw prices surge to as much as £355, the Government announced plans to investigate the practice, although current proposals focus largely on greater transparency rather than restrictions.

Concerns about rising prices have also been voiced within the theatre industry itself.

Earlier this year, Young Vic artistic director Nadia Fall said seeing £200 tickets become commonplace gave her “heartburn”, adding that Broadway's increasingly common $400 to $700 seats left her feeling “frightened”.

The irony is that theatre remains one of London's most successful cultural exports. More than 17 million people attend a play in the capital each year.

Yet for many audiences, particularly younger theatre-goers, stepping through the doors of the West End has rarely felt more financially daunting.