EVEN the star power of Game of Thrones actor Kit Harrington can’t guarantee a hit these days.
Ticket prices for his West End show, Slave Play have been slashed by 42 per cent, just days after opening.
Prices for London theatre shows tend to fall around £45 for a standard seat, but now performances are being offered for as low as £15, almost unheard of in the West End.
It is thought that producers are keen to fill as many seats as possible, to attract a crowd who wouldn’t normally think to go to the theatre.
Running until September, theatre bosses have chosen to have ‘Black Out nights” on 17th July and September 17th, where they aim to make tickets available to those from lower income backgrounds.
The controversial play by playwright Jeremy O’Harris, opened at the Noel Coward theatre on St Martins lane last week throws light on explores race culture, gender and identity in 21st century America.
Dubbed the most Tony-nominated play for all time, Slave Play is winner of the Rosa Parks Playwrighting Award, the Lorraine Hansberry Playwrighting Award and the Paula Vogel Award following much-lauded run at Broadways Golden Theatre Company.
Starring opposite Kit Harrington is Olivia Washington, daughter of the celebrated Oscar-winning actor, Denzel Washington.
Kit Harrington became a household name thanks to his role as Jon Snow in Game of Thrones, from 2011 to 2018, where he was thought to have been paid £2 million an episode.
Since then he has starred in the film, Pompeii as well as a role in the 2019 Marvel Film, The Eternals.
He has also enjoyed notable success on the West End stage, playing the titular role in Henry V at the Donmar Warehouse in 2022.
The 37-year-old who is married to actress Rose Leslie with whom he has children recently spoke about his struggle with ADD during his stint in rehab in 2019.
It's a tricky time for live entertainment as staying in seems to be the new going out
Girls Aloud – The chart topping girlband have been forced to slash ticket prices by up to 60 per cent as their reunion tour have failed to lure the fans. The girls failed to sell out the first three nights at the O2 in contrast to Taylor Swift who packed out Wembley Arena across the other side of town.
Opening Night – Sheridan Smith’s play closed two months early at the Gielgud Theatre after being fraught with difficulties following bad reviews, public walk outs and slashed ticket prices.
Pearl Jam – The Seattle rockers struggled to sell their recently cancelled stadium gig at Tottenham’s stadium.
High ticket costs – some in excess of £200 – seemingly priced fans out and thousands remained unsold before illness forced the group to pull the date.
