Theatre visits remain one of the most popular outings for group travel organisers. We spoke to GTOs across the country to find out which productions have stood out, what they have lined up for the year ahead and their advice for making every theatre trip a success.
Eileen Booker (Booker’s Trips) said by far the best show they had seen recently was Oliver! because “everyone knew the story and it was so nice to have songs and music that everyone knew and loved.” She said it was so popular they had to do two dates. This year they’re off to see Moulin Rouge in October, the Barnum tour, and also have plans to see the Sinatra musical.
Eileen told us: “When I am organising a theatre trip I always allow enough time for my group to get lunch before the show. The group seem to prefer that as it keeps the cost down and some people like to bring sandwiches with them. I only do matinee performances now as I find the evening shows don’t sell.”
Oliver! has also been a highlight for Olivia Goodfellows’ group, Enfield Over 50s Forum, which she said was “hard to beat”. The other shows on the agenda for this year include Shadowlands, Dracula, Kinky Boots, Jesus Christ Superstar and Cats.
In terms of organising theatre visits, Olivia looks for productions with reviews and it has to offer a matinee too. She said it doesn’t matter what type of show it is - her group are interested in all sorts.
Marion Mccrindle (Watford Park u3a) said her group enjoy a range of shows. She said the show she received the most feedback on was War Horse, adding: “The puppetry was magnificent and the story was compelling. Another hit was Birdsong which some members still talk about! My personal favourite was Giant (Harold Pinter Theatre) - brilliant acting and excellent writing.”
Their list of shows this year includes Paddington, High Society, Indian Ink (Hampstead), Abba Voyage, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold and the tour of Sunny Afternoon.
Donna Gale (Donna’s Day Trips) took her group to see Hadestown and said, not knowing what to expect, they found the show to be “refreshingly different, with some brilliant new songs, great stage set, and solid story line”.
They also went to see both parts of the Harry Potter and The Cursed Child play which she said was very good although quite a lot in one day. It was recently announced that from September the production will take place in one show, rather than spread across two parts.
Donna told us: “We have also seen Phantom of the Opera (for the umpteenth time over the years!). We always enjoy the show and it is always different with new cast members.”
Emma Durrant (The Sound Collective) said one of her group’s favourite West End productions was The Great Gatsby at the London Coliseum starring Jamie Muscato. She said: “It was such a visually glorious production - glamorous, stylish and full of atmosphere. The theatre itself worked really well for a group visit and there was a lovely sense of occasion.”
She also recommended a touring production called 80s Mania which is heading to different theatres this year and next, and she has booked for 100 of her group to see Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium in July. She’s especially looking forward to it because of her connection with Sam Ryder.
Emma told us: “I used to sing with Sam Ryder in a small professional choir before the pandemic, before he had his huge breakthrough through TikTok and Instagram, Eurovision and everything that followed. As Sam is known to my choir, The Sound Collective, it made perfect sense that so many of them would want to go and see him in this lead role.”
In terms of advice for theatre trips, she said: “When organising a theatre visit, I look for good group deals, fair pricing and excellent seats, ideally the sort of seats that would be difficult to achieve as an individual booker. A weekend matinee is always especially appealing for my groups.”
Nicola Haynes said their trip to see The Greatest Showman at the Bristol Hippodrome this year sold out within hours - she took 58 people to see the show, and said she has members travelling from all over Europe to see it, adding: “That alone felt extraordinary and a real reminder of how special these trips have become.”
She said: “What makes it work is the way we do things. I offer coach travel and theatre seats at genuinely amazing prices, opening doors that would otherwise be closed to many people.”
In terms of the shows she has seen that stand out - she highlighted Evita at the London Palladium in 2025 which she saw four times. She said: “Before we even went, I had so many enquiries about the balcony scene. People were genuinely worried they’d miss out, thinking it was only shown on the outside screen to the audience in the street. I kept explaining that we’d see it on screen inside the venue too but it wasn’t until we’d actually been that everyone truly understood.
“And once we had been… the reaction was something else entirely. Absolute goosebumps. The moment Rachel Zegler took to the balcony screen was electric. You could feel it ripple through the audience.”
