THE thespians who frequent the Garrick Theatre in London’s West End are more used to seeing the likes of Richard E. Grant and Christine Baranski tread the boards than a dwarf bouncing around inside a giant balloon.
That’s their loss though, because the families packing the venue off Leicester Square were hooting with laughter at the launch of Cirque Bererk last week – a theatre-circus spectacular with more than 30 performers that is running throughout October half term.
Cirque Beserk is a theatre-circus spectacular with more than 30 performers that is running throughout October half term in London’s West EndCredit: Jonathan Hordle
And Sun Club members can get an extra 10 per cent off if they book their tickets through London Theatre Direct, when booking via our Sun Club Promo page.
To get your tickets, sign up to Sun Club for for £1.99 a month then head to the Sun Club Offers hub and London Theatre Direct page or click here.
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It was quite something to see a group of acts usually found in big tops showcasing their talents in a old-fashioned London theatre.
Despite the smaller stage, we witnessed acrobats spinning from their mouths, men doing the limbo under poles of burning fire, motorbikes racing round a metal cage and a mesmerising quad of dancers in LED armour.
While there was a lack of a thread between most of the acts that left it feeling slightly disjointed, you can be sure the children in the audience didn’t notice it.
Despite the age of the kids ranging from around three years old upwards (although age guidance is age five-plus), their concentration was held throughout the show – even though it was long enough to merit an interval.
Of course they were – who doesn’t want to see performers juggling fire and shooting arrows through objects onstage?
This was also in no small part thanks to the man from the aforementioned balloon, who took on the role of a modern ringmaster.
Fans of Zippos Circus, who produce Cirque Beserk, may recognise him from Zippos travelling shows.
With a grin wide enough to light up any stage, he tied all of the acts together alongside a comedy robot, in a style akin to an entry-level Cirque De Soleil.
Which is essentially what this show is, a great starter show for families that is a wonderful way to introduce kids to the magic of both the circus and London’s West End.
Cirque Beserk runs every day until October 31, with tickets from £28.
Theatregoers witness acrobats spinning from their mouths, men doing the limbo under poles of burning fire, motorbikes racing round a metal cageCredit: Jonathan Hordle
DO you love the theatre, gigs and stand-up but the prices make you wince?
You don’t need to spend a fortune though – as there are bags of secret loopholes and clever hacks to experience all sorts of culture, from Shakespearean plays to comedy gigs and arena concerts for virtually nothing.
An app puts you in line for Harry Potter and The Cursed Child in LondonCredit: AlamyNoel Gallagher performed at locations across London – and nearby residents were put into a lottery, but received discounts anyway. This is similar for many gigs UK-wideCredit: Getty
Before you know it, you could be gushing to your mates about the “must-see” West End musical or cool band you saw – and you don’t even have to bankrupt yourself. Here’s how to get the best deals…
TodayTix
This app lets people book highly discounted last-minute tickets to West End and off-West End shows.
It operates worldwide, so if you are on holiday in New York you could pick up a Broadway bargain, too.
Our reporter saw the hit play The Book of Mormon for a knockdown price in the Big Apple, booking in the morning, and it was problem-free. But we’ve also taken advantage of their “rush tickets” and “digital lotteries”.
Every year the BBC offers tickets for people who want to sit in the audience – not just for Strictly but multiple showsCredit: PAPeople waited for months to see Hamilton, paying huge amounts, but a lucky few got £10 ticketsCredit: ITV Press Release
Rush tickets go on sale inside the app on the day, usually at 10am, and get you seats for a fraction of the price – typically £25 to £30.
Shows including The Devil Wears Prada and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child are included among the options.
Lottery tickets are picked from a pool – the most famous example is Hamilton, which usually sells out months in advance. People can “win” them for as little as £10.
Our reporter won £10 lottery tickets to see Orlando Bloom get his kit off in Killer Joe in the West End in 2018 via TodayTix – so it really works!
SeatFillers UK
This connects slow-filling productions and gigs with eager audience members… it’s win-win.
Called ‘papering’, it’s a technique theatre producers use to fill empty seats and create buzz.
However, while the app is free and used nationwide – you submit your county and where else you might like to watch things – we can’t actually tell you what could come up for grabs.
Because some audience members will have paid full price for tickets, you’re strictly forbidden from shouting out: “I’ve got a freebie!” so discretion is a must.
Central Tickets
If you can be discreet, then Central Tickets will be perfect for you. Like SeatFillers UK, it’s free to join and it works on the same principle.
You get tickets to gigs, the opera, dance, shows and comedy shows for between £4 and £15. It’s got a 4.9 out of 5 Trustpilot rating with more than 3,000 reviews.
The cash goes towards an admin fee – but they also raise money for NHS Charities Together.
The Audience Club
This costs £5 a year – or is free if you’re a Blue Light Card or Defence Privilege Card holder.
It’s largely London-based, but is perfect if you live in or near the capital or regularly visit and love the arts.
You can browse hundreds of shows, including West End ones. But it also offers quirky, niche plays – great if you love branching out a bit!
ShowFilmFirst
Founded in 2001, don’t let the name fool you – this isn’t just a movie seat-filler platform; they also offer theatre, comedy, music and days out.
Happily, it’s free to join and it’s not just London. You can find offers as far afield as Manchester, Birmingham, Bath, Cardiff, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Leeds, Bristol, Belfast, Nottingham, Brighton, Southampton and even more.
Young people can get £10 tickets to the National Theatre and there’s also a ‘friday rush’ – Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer performed there in 2023Credit: APDubious the apps work? Our reporter bagged a £10 lotto ticket to see Orlando Bloom in the buff in Killing JoeCredit: Getty
There’s only one catch – afterwards you have to fill out a quick survey… but that’s nothing for a free experience!
My Box Office
You can either choose a lifetime membership for £12.99 or an annual membership for £5. Once signed up, you’re offered seats through papering – usually paying an admin fee of around £1 to £5 per show.
They deliver access to more than 42,000 events, from burlesque to cabaret and even sports.
Tickets For Good
This initiative requires a small booking fee but gives free tickets to major events for NHS staff, contractors, students, teachers, education staff and charity staff.
It also gives tickets to volunteers and people associated with The Ticket Bank – those who might face barriers that make it trickier to access live events, for example, unpaid carers.
It operates across the UK, so people might see anything from West End musicals to stand-up comedy, and UK music festivals to live sporting events.
National Theatre Concessions
London’s National Theatre offers £10 tickets to 16–25-year-olds – and you don’t have to live in the capital. You can book online.
Additionally, every Friday the theatre issues a limited number of “friday rush” tickets for the subsequent week – even for sold-out shows!
If you’re Midlands-based, then a trip to Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon, might be in order.
The RSC offers £10 tickets for 14–25-year-olds for shows performed there.
The discount is available on its website here. Not Bard going!
Festival ballots and free tickets
Live near a major UK festival? Then check if they run residents’ lotteries for free shows or heavily discounted tickets.
Our reporter snagged free tickets to see Skepta and The Streets thanks to a lotto win in Crystal Palace, London, and bagged cheap tickets to see Blondie, Iggy Pop and Noel Gallagher for the same reason.
But similar schemes exist if you live close in other parts of London, Sheffield, Winchester, Oxon, Dorset and Bucks.
You can similarly volunteer at many festivals and receive free tickets.
Occasionally this offer is emailed directly to local residents, as with above, but bigger charities also offer it for events like Glastonbury.
Writer Becky Pemberton told how her friend watched Glastonbury in 2022 for free, having volunteered.
Meanwhile, she enjoyed the event too as she helped out at a toasted cheese sandwich stand which she found out about through “word of mouth”.
She said: “I worked on a cheese toasty stand and got a free ticket for Glastonbury in 2022 (plus fed during shifts!).
“I did it by Pyramid Stage and saw Billie Eilish and Diana Ross. My friend also volunteered for the charity WaterAid and got in for free too. We’d meet up after our shifts and danced the night away into the early hours without having paid a penny!”
Sit in the audience at massive BBC shows like Strictly
This is all done by a random draw – but you might get lucky!
From Strictly to Bookclub, there are loads on offer and they come up all the time. Crucially, they take place all over the UK, with shows being filmed in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Leeds, London and Margate.
If you fancy your luck visit the Beeb’s site here.
QUENTIN Tarantino is swapping the big screen for the stage with his first West End play.
The Popinjay Cavalier is written and directed by the Pulp Fiction filmmaker, with Sacha Baron Cohen taking on the leading role.
The Popinjay Cavalier is written and directed by Quentin TarantinoCredit: GettyThe play opens in London’s West End in February 2027Credit: instagram/@popinjayplay
And theatre fans don’t have long to wait to get their hands on tickets. Here’s everything you need to know.
What time do The Popinjay Cavalier tickets go on sale?
Prices start at £25, while more than 16,000 tickets across the run will cost less than £50.
The show is booking until June 13, 2027.
Demand is likely to be high given Quentin Tarantino’s huge film following and Sacha Baron Cohen’s first major leading role on a West End stage.
Anyone hoping to go should have the official ticket page ready before the sale opens.
When is The Popinjay Cavalier on in London?
The Popinjay Cavalier begins previews at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End on February 23, 2027, while its official opening night is on March 18.
At the time of writing, the limited run is booking until June 13, 2027.
