Musicals in London and Broadway: what are the differences?

While theatre is a universal language and productions are generally of a similar quality, attending a musical in the West End (the London theatre district) or Broadway (the New York theatre district) can be very different experiences! In this article, we'll list the main differences you'll find between the West End and Broadway.

How do I book tickets for a musical in London?

To book tickets for a musical or show in London you just need to visit the website London Musicals. With transparent ticket prices (which is rare), it's probably the best site for online bookings.

Programme

On Broadway, you don't need to buy a programme. Each audience member is given a free monthly Playbill containing the biographies of the cast and crew. It's a great free souvenir some fans collect. This isn't the case in London.

Starting times

Even if there are some exceptions, most London shows start at 7.30pm in the evening with matinee at 2.30pm. In New York, shows start at 2pm in the afternoon and 8pm at night, giving a little more time to have dinner before going to a musical.

Applause

British audiences are more reserved than their cross-Atlantic counterparts. On Broadway the audience applauds when a star walks on stage. For example, during The Music Man revival with Hugh Jackman, the actor received a round of applause every time he walked on stage.

Theatre layouts

The biggest difference between a London and New York theatre is that in New York seat numbers are not consecutive. The room is "cut in half" with even numbers on one side and odd numbers on the other. This layout allows ushers to easily indicate which side of the room people will find their seats on.

Age

Some West End London theatres are older than the US! The oldest Broadway theatre is the Lyceum built in 1903 while the oldest London theatre, the Royal Drury Lane, was built in 1660.

Capacity

The biggest West End theatre is the Apollo Victoria Theatre with 2328 seats. It's larger than its Broadway equivalent - the Gershwin Theatre - which has 1933 seats. Fun fact: both theatres are home to the musical Wicked.

Definitions

The definition of a Broadway theatre is very clear: it must be located in the Broadway district and have at least 500 seats, the definition of a West End theatre is more fluid.

Awards

While Broadway's Tony Awards follow strict rules and are announced throughout the yeat (eligible shows, nominees and winners) the team in charge of the Olivier Awards in London take a more discreet approach. This secretive culture helps maintain suspense during the awards ceremony.

Turnover

While there's no obligation for producers or theatre owners to disclose their turnover in London, the Broadway League counts and publishes the takings of each show.

Understudies

In the West End, there's not a rule that says the production has to disclose the presence of an understudy. On Broadway, producers must put it in the Playbill to inform the audience.

Theatre names

In London and on Broadway, theatre sections are named differently. For example, the ground floor is called the Stalls in London and the Orchestra in New York. Fun Fact: the majority of New York theatres don't have a second balcony!

In any case, London and New York are known for giving global audiences an unparalleled theatre experience. So, whether you're team fish & chips or team hot dog, run to a musical - it'll be the highlight of your trip!