Lyric Theatre — Attraction in London

Show was 10/10

Theatre was 0/10 and I’ll be reluctant to go back here to see any show or at any NIMAX theatre.

Firstly I should say this is my 15th show in 4 months - I keep aside money every pay to get the cheapest tickets I can because I love the theatre and musicals. I got a balcony seat for £23 to paint the picture. In a cost of living crisis it’s my one indulgence. I like to support the arts and everything from well known to short runs of local and global shows. Long story short, I go to the theatre A LOT and I’ve never had the issue I’m about to describe.

I had my own small Tupperware container of leftovers from my dinner in my bag. Not something edible in the theatre like a takeaway of chips and chicken. It was rice, moussaka and salad. Dinner was expensive, I couldn’t finish it, I hate wasting food, I’ve gone to the theatre plenty with my work lunch and dinner left overs. It was sealed, it didn’t smell, it was at the bottom of my bag and clearly not something edible at all show.

NIMAX door staff opened the container and threw the food into the bin saying no food was allowed in the theatre. There is no mention of this when I buy the tickets or theatre website. Other people with food were offered to keep their food in a box to collect at the end of the show, however as my food was considered “warm” they would not hold the food.

My issue is, it was clearly inedible in the theatre, in a sealed container, and if I was happy to keep it in my bag at a show what business does the theatre have in throwing it out. My water bottle could have been filled with wine for goodness sake. Phones also aren’t allowed in the theatre yet we go in with them. If my own food is in a properly sealed container at the bottom of my bag I think that’s quite different to a cardboard box of smelly/leaky food you are worried about in the theatre. It’s commonsense really.

It sounds dumb but it was really upsetting. It was my lunch for the following day. I don’t have a lot of money to throw around and to have my own food thrown out in front of me and other patrons was not okay. The food wasn’t bought from the theatre establishment, if I want it to sit there for 2.5hrs in my bag or in your box of contraband that should be my choice. Minimum it should have been allowed to be put to the side and collected upon my exit.

Really poor customer service, understanding and more frustratingly signage. Please put this information on the ticket sites and your website. I’ve looked again and it’s written nowhere. I always come from work and have leftovers in my bag.

If you want to cater to young people, on a budget, in a cost of living crisis, who care about reuse/recycle, are environmentally conscious, trying to do the right thing you aren’t going the right way about it. It’s a shame but I won’t be supporting shows at NIMAX anymore if I...

I recently attended Hadestown at the Lyric Theatre, and while the show itself was phenomenal—beautifully staged, brilliantly performed, and truly moving—my overall experience was marred by a troubling encounter with security staff at the entrance.

To be clear, most of the staff I interacted with were polite and professional. However, I had a particularly frustrating interaction with one security guard that left me distressed. I want to mention that this guard was Asian, and I am also Asian myself—I only raise this point for context and clarity, not as a criticism based on race or ethnicity.

Before entering the theatre, I clearly declared that I had food in my bag. This wasn’t something I was trying to hide. The food wasn’t for me—it was something my family had asked me to buy for them so I could bring it home, as I was heading straight to the airport after the show. I fully understand that outside food and drink are not allowed to be consumed inside the auditorium, and I never intended to do so. I was planning to store my bag in the cloakroom

While one security staff member was understanding and even sympathetic, the mentioned security guard continuously interrupted, insisting that no cooked food was allowed into the theatre at all, regardless of whether it was going to the cloakroom or not. I explained multiple times that the food was not for eating during the show and was simply part of my travel baggage, but he remained adamant. At one point, I was even asked if I wanted to eat it right there—something that was completely inappropriate given the situation. The whole interaction left me feeling embarrassed and upset, especially considering I wasn’t trying to break any rules—I was openly communicating and following procedures.

I eventually gave up trying to reason as the show was about to start, and went in with my mood completely dampened—something that impacted my ability to fully enjoy the performance, despite its excellence.

To make matters worse, when I collected my bag at the end of the show, I discovered that there was something called “confiscated box” where I saw there was a paper bag from Hard Rock Cafe which is as we know a restaurant and I saw one of the workers gave back a piece of item on a foil with one of the show goers which I presume is food. I wonder why I was not given that option and was treated differently.

I’ve attended many shows in the West End and on Broadway, and I understand the importance of theatre policies. But this experience was handled with a lack of empathy, communication, and professionalism.

I sincerely hope the London Lyric Theatre takes this feedback seriously and reviews how these situations are managed in the future. A little understanding goes a long way in ensuring that all guests feel...

Excellent production from the cast of Get up Stand up, cannot fault the cast and the production in general 10/10.

2/10 for the front of house staff, who were very nonchalant, unhelpful and downright inhospitable.

My friend booked the tickets which admittedly were reduced in price, which seem to justify them selling a seat in front of a very wide column. I asked staff if the area had sold out, was told no and said if I was unhappy with my seat I should go to box office.

Paul at box office was very obstructive and not interested in hearing that I would not be able to see the performance as a whole but would have to watch the performance either side of a column, he seem to believe explaining that the producers had sold the seats was customer service, and I should just accept this.I explained that my friend who booked the seats was in a seat seeing the full stage so it negated that part of his argument suggesting it’s a cheap seat so what do you expect! meanwhile in neighbouring queue, a young lady stated she wanted to be moved as the position of her seat was making her feel nauseous? No problem, no argument, staff printed her a new ticket, conversely Paul after all the excuses did not reprint the tickets but told me where he had moved us to. I felt stressed in what should have been a simple fix by a staff member with 0 empathy and little care about customer service.

We understand that these old buildings do not always fit with modern demands, however by the time I went toilet, I was told the bar was now closed which I accepted and asked I could have simple water then, on my way back to my seat, a bumbling member of staff came bursting through the double doors (which he should have pulled not pushed) which then knocked into me knocking the plastic cup full of water all over me, he then awkwardly said sorry and was about to carry on with what he was in such a hurry to get to, I said that as a minimum he should get me another cup,,, where o where are the standards!!!

Absolutely comedic and also awful.

Sign of the...