So there's this debate on Twitter where someone bought 2 adult and 2 child tickets to "War Horse" for £440 - £120 for the adults, £100 each for the kids. Row O stalls.

Lot of anger that the NT get £16m a year subsidy, but nobody can afford to treat the children to one of their shows.

Sadly, £16m isn't much today - a single West End musical costs only a bit less that to stage. And the NT run a building and pay off their Covid loan on it. Plus that grant isn't much of their income, it is only sponsorship that really keeps them afloat.

OK, it is unfair it is that much to bring a family, but if it were me, I wouldn't pay £400 for row O anyway. 4 £30 tickets in the front stalls or rear circle are just as good. Leaves a few quid for ice creams and Maccy D afterwards (nearest branch, Waterloo Station).

Ticket prices are what they are and always were. I was lucky to be taken once every couple of years to a show as a kid, we had the cheapest seats. They were fine. Not much cash in my household either, but like everyone else back then, people did what they could with what they had.

Odd question is, if people have a public forum to moan on now, has that added to our stress of "not being good enough" or FOMO or other negative views of what should be a positive experience?