Norwich Theatre is updating how it charges booking fees at its three city venues, shifting from a flat £3.95 fee per booking to a 6% charge per ticket starting 27 April 2026. This change affects all shows held at the Theatre Royal, Playhouse, and Stage Two, regardless of whether tickets are purchased online, over the phone, or in person at the box office.
The theatre stated that the new pricing structure is designed to meet the requirements of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. This legislation, which came into force in April 2025, mandates that all mandatory charges be disclosed to customers upfront, rather than added as extra costs during the checkout process.
According to the theatre, the fees are necessary to cover operational costs, including website technology and security, payment processing, and staffing for the box office and phone lines. By keeping these services in-house, the organisation aims to avoid the higher fees often associated with third-party ticketing providers, which can reach 15% per ticket.
Certain visitors will be exempt from the new 6% charge, including corporate bookers, Ambassadors, and members of the Friends scheme. Additionally, groups of 10 or more people will not pay the per-ticket fee. Instead, these groups will be charged a flat administrative fee of £5 for groups of 10 to 50 people, or £10 for groups of 50 or more.
This adjustment follows a wider trend within the UK theatre sector as venues adapt to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act.
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