The Performing Arts

Even more than New York, London is the theater capital of the world. Few things here are as entertaining and rewarding as the theater. The number and variety of productions, and the standards of acting and directing, are unrivaled. The London stage accommodates both the traditional and the avant-garde and is, for the most part, accessible and reasonably affordable.

Currently, London supports five major orchestras -- the London Symphony, the Royal Philharmonic, the Philharmonia Orchestra, the BBC Symphony, and the BBC Philharmonic -- several choirs, and many smaller chamber groups and historic instrument ensembles. Look for the London Sinfonietta, the English Chamber Orchestra, and of course, the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. Performances are in the South Banks Arts Centre and the Barbican. Smaller recitals are at Wigmore Hall and St. John's Smith Square.

Getting Tickets

To see specific shows, especially hits, purchase your tickets in advance. The best method is to buy your tickets from the theater's box office, which you can do over the phone using a credit card. You'll pay the theater price and pick up the tickets the day of the show. You can also go to a ticket agent, especially for discount tickets such as those sold by the Society of London Theatre (tel. 020/7557-6700; www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk) on the southwest corner of Leicester Square, open Monday to Saturday 10am to 7pm and Sunday noon to 3pm. A £2 ($4) service fee is charged. You can purchase all tickets here, although the booth specializes in half-price sales for shows that are undersold. These tickets must be purchased in person -- not over the phone. For phone orders, you have to call Ticketmaster at tel. 0870/060-2340.

For tickets and information before you go, try Keith Prowse, 234 W. 44th St., Suite 1000, New York, NY 10036 (tel. 800/669-8687 or 212/398-1468; www.keithprowse.com). Their London office (which operates under the name of both Global Tickets and First Call Tickets) is at the British Visitor Center, 1 Regent St., SW1 Y4XT (tel. 0870/906-3860). They'll mail your tickets, fax a confirmation, or leave your tickets at the appropriate production's box office. Instant confirmations are immediately available for most shows. A booking and handling fee of up to 20% is added to the price of all tickets.

Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, 311 W. 43rd St., Suite 601, New York, NY 10036 (tel. 800/451-9930 or 212/307-7050; fax 212/397-3729; www.applause-tickets.com), can sometimes get you tickets when Prowse can't. In business for some 2 decades, it is a reliable and efficient company.

Another option is Theatre Direct International (TDI; tel. 800/BROADWAY or 212/541-8457 in the U.S. only; www.broadway.com). TDI specializes in providing London fringe theatre tickets but also has tickets to major productions, including those at the Royal National Theatre and the Barbican. The service allows you to arrive in London with your tickets or have them held for you at the box office.

If you're staying at a first-class or deluxe hotel with a concierge, you can also call and arrange tickets before you arrive, putting them on a credit card.

London theater tickets are priced quite reasonably when compared with the United States. Prices vary greatly depending on the seat -- from £25 to £85 ($50-$170). Sometimes gallery seats (the cheapest) are sold only on the day of the performance, so you'll have to head to the box office early in the day and return an hour before the performance to queue up because they're not reserved seats.

Many of the major theaters offer reduced-price tickets to students on a stand-by basis but not to the general public. When available, these tickets are sold 30 minutes prior to curtain. Line up early for popular shows, as standby tickets go fast and furious. Of course, you must have a valid student ID.

Warning: Beware of scalpers who hang out in front of theaters with hit shows. Many report that scalpers sell forged tickets, and their prices are outrageous.

Curtain Going Up! -- Matinees, performed Tuesday through Saturday, are cheaper than evening performances. Evening performances begin between 7:30 and 8:30pm, midweek matinees at 2:30 or 3pm, and Saturday matinees at 5:45pm. West End theaters are closed Sunday.

Theatre

Major Theatres & Companies -- To find out what's on currently in all of the major and fringe theaters, pick up Time Out London, Where, a London daily newspaper, or "The Official London Theatre Guide" pamphlet (online at www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk), available at ticket brokers and all West End theaters.

One of the world's finest theater companies, the Royal Shakespeare Company, performs at various theaters throughout London. Check its website at www.rsc.org.uk for current shows and venues or call tel. 0844/800-1110 Monday to Saturday 9am to 8pm. The theater troupe performs in London during the winter months, specializing in the plays of the Bard. In summer, it tours England and abroad.

Fringe Theatre -- Some of the best theater in London is performed on the "fringe" -- at the dozens of theaters devoted to alternative plays, revivals, contemporary dramas, and musicals. These shows are usually more adventurous than established West End productions, and they're cheaper. Most offer discounted seats to students and seniors. Fringe theaters are scattered around London; so check listings in Time Out and www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk and www.londontheatre.co.uk.

New Venues for London Opera Lovers

Frank Matcham, famed designer of the Coliseum, built Hackney Empire, 291 Mare St., E8 (tel. 020/8985-2424; www.hackneyempire.co.uk), an Italian-style rococo opera house that opened in 1901. Today its cultural offerings range from opera to the Bard.

The Savoy Theater, the Strand, WC2 (tel. 0870/164-8787; www.savoy-theatre.co.uk), also presents operas and other musicals such as a revival of Porgy and Bess. This was the famous opera theater built in 1880 by Richard D'Oyly Carte that specialized in Gilbert & Sullivan musicals. Today, the 1,100-seat theater has been completely refurbished and is one of the few West End theaters with an orchestra pit; this one holds the Royal Philharmonic Opera Orchestra.