Touring Musicals: How They Work and Where to See Them

Touring musicals are a substantial part of the British theatrical landscape, bringing productions of major West End shows to theatre audiences across the country and making work that originated in London available to audiences who cannot easily attend the West End regularly. For audiences outside London, the touring circuit is the primary means of access to large-scale musical theatre; for London audiences, it offers the opportunity to see productions that have not (or have not yet) appeared in the capital. This guide explains how the touring system works, what the difference between a touring production and a West End original is, and how to find and book touring shows across the UK. When a West End production has had a successful run, the producers typically license the production for a national tour. A touring production is a new cast performing the same show, usually in a version that has been adapted for touring: the staging, set and production values are generally the same or very close to the original, but the show is built to be taken apart, transported and rebuilt in a sequence of different theatre buildings across the country. The touring model exists because the economics of large-scale musical theatre require a much larger total audience than any single venue can provide. A show that runs in a 1,500-seat West End theatre five or six nights a week builds its audience over time; a national tour of the same show can reach audiences in Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Bristol, Leeds and dozens of other cities within a single touring season, multiplying the show's reach enormously. There are two kinds of touring productions that UK audiences should know about. A "number one tour" features a major production, usually with significant production values, a strong cast and a programme of large theatres across the country. A smaller scale or regional tour might use a reduced cast, simplified staging and a programme of smaller venues. The difference matters because the experience of the show varies considerably depending on scale. Touring productions of major shows like Hamilton, Wicked and Les Misérables are typically produced to a standard very close to the West End original. The same creative team is usually involved in the touring production, the staging is faithful to the original and the performers are auditioned and cast to the same quality standards. For audiences who see a major touring production in a well-equipped regional theatre, the experience is broadly comparable to seeing the same show in London. The main difference between a touring production and a West End run is continuity. In the West End, a long-running show builds its cast over time and the performances develop the depth and precision that comes from an extended run. A touring production visits each venue for a limited engagement, typically one to four weeks, and the cast and production are in a different kind of flow: they have been living with the show for the duration of the tour, but without the settled environment that a long run provides. For most audiences, this difference is minimal. A well-produced touring show at a major regional venue is a full-scale, high-quality theatrical experience, and the assumption that a touring production is necessarily inferior to the West End original does not hold for the best examples. Major touring musicals visit a consistent circuit of regional theatres across the UK. The largest houses on the circuit can accommodate full-scale productions and attract the most prominent touring shows. In Manchester, the Palace Theatre and the Opera House are the principal venues for large-scale touring. In Birmingham, the Birmingham Hippodrome is one of the largest touring theatres in the country. In Edinburgh, the Festival Theatre and the King's Theatre host major touring productions. In Cardiff, the Wales Millennium Centre and the New Theatre are the principal touring destinations. In Bristol, the Bristol Hippodrome receives major touring productions. In Liverpool, the Empire Theatre is a 2,350-seat house that hosts large-scale musicals. For audiences in these cities, the touring circuit provides consistent access to major productions within a short distance of home. Productions of The Phantom of the Opera, Matilda the Musical and other major West End shows have appeared at all of these venues over the years, and the touring schedule ensures that most of the major shows in the West End programme will eventually be available outside London. Finding out when specific shows are visiting specific venues requires checking a few sources. Individual theatre venues publish their own touring schedules, but the advance notice can be limited: a tour that opens at one city in January might not announce its full schedule of cities until the previous autumn. For a national view of what is touring and where, BritishTheatre.com covers the touring programme alongside the West End and regional schedules, providing a single source for the complete national picture. The full list of West End and national theatre venues is also available on the site for audiences planning visits to London. Productions announced for touring typically appear in the listings as they are confirmed, and audiences who are interested in a specific show can check the listings to see where and when it will be visiting. tickadoo covers West End productions directly. For tickets to touring shows at regional venues, booking through the venue's own box office is typical, and advance booking is recommended for the same reasons that apply to the West End: good central seats at popular productions sell quickly, and early booking gives the widest choice. Is a touring musical as good as the West End original? A well-produced number one tour of a major show, staged in a large regional theatre, typically offers an experience very close in quality to the West End original. The staging and production values are usually faithful to the original, and the cast is auditioned to the same standard. How long does a touring production stay at each venue? Touring productions typically visit each venue for between one and four weeks. Major cities on the number one touring circuit, such as Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh, often receive longer engagements than smaller venues. Where can I find touring musical tickets? Touring show tickets are sold through the venue's own box office and through authorised ticketing agents. For West End shows, tickadoo provides full availability. For the national touring programme and regional shows, BritishTheatre.com covers current and upcoming productions across the country. What is the difference between a number one tour and a regular tour? A number one tour features a major production with full staging, a strong cast and a programme of the UK's largest regional theatres. Smaller scale tours use reduced production values and visit smaller venues. For the major West End musicals that tour nationally, the number one tour is the standard format. Do West End shows always tour after their West End run? Not always, but most major successful musicals tour nationally at some point, either during or after their West End run. Shows like Hamilton, Les Misérables and Wicked have all been on national tour, and the touring programme is a reliable route to seeing major West End productions outside London.