Hello!

Can someone help me figure out the clever way to do this?

I have been trying and trying to use the web to determine what ballet performances we might be able to purchase tickets for on a stay in London in June. There is really only two nights (or days) that works for everyone in our group. The first is not great, because it is the day we arrive after traveling from California. That is Monday July 20. The second is the Tuesday July 21.

I have done a number of web searches. It looks like the Royal Opera House doesn't have any ballet performances during this time. I tried other web sites and again, there seems to be a gap during this time, if I'm really bringing up all the seasons offerings. Perhaps this is one of those times of the year when there are less performances? I found one site that seems as though it would let me put in a particular date range, and then show me ballets or shows for that range. However it's clear when I put those dates in that shows starting two months later are coming up. The url for that is
http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/shows

Also we have a limited budget. I'm sure we are the only travellers with that challenge! We respect the value and challenge of supporting the arts, and we can afford to pay up to 20 pounds apiece. (Yes, we do shop in the local market and cook our own suppers as well!)

If I can figure out how to do this ahead of time, what site would you recommend?

On the other hand, would I be likely to be able to get ballet tickets going to the half price ticket booth in Leichestershire (sp?) Square once we arrive?

Thank you for any and all help and ideas.

Meg

quote:

However it's clear when I put those dates in that shows starting two months later are coming up. The url for that is
http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/shows

Are you sure you're doing the dates in the right format: day/month/year instead of month/day/year as we would normally do it in the U.S.

Yes, but thanks for the reminder. It's a click-the-calendar style and the date comes up in that format that is strange to me!

Meg

I think you may be visiting London during a period when major ballet companies are either on holiday or on tour. A quick check of The Royal Opera House website shows the final ballet performance is on June 9th, and the 06/07 season doesn't begin until September. English National Ballet finishes its London season on June 3rd.

You might want to check the Time Out London a week or so before you leave for London to see if any of the smaller companies have performances on the dates you are going to be there. And certainly even if there are no ballet performances there will be lots of other theater and music to choose from.

Sadly it doesn't look to me as if you've come at a time when there is much ballet on in town.

thanks to both of you.

Yes, we were worried that we were coming out of season. San Francisco Ballet Company, were we live, has a similar season. We were hoping that we could at least find a company that is travelling into London, if not local companies.

So "Time OUt" seems to be the best bet, then.

Thank you.

Meg

Sadlers Wells has Carlos Acosta at the time you're in London:

http://www.sadlers-wells.com/whats_on/2005_2006/carlos.asp

And you could try http://www.londondance.com a little nearer the time - looks like they only list a month or so ahead.