If you're bored with night after night of the same sitcoms and serial dramas on the television, you might like to consider expanding your field of interest to include alternative entertainment solutions. While some theatre tickets will, it's true, set you back the price of a new ipad2, it's not necessary to get into sold out West End shows to experience a great stage production.
Instead of heading directly for the heart of theatre-land, where you'll find yourself facing 'booked out' signs at every turn, take some time instead to check out local theatre and stage productions in your area. University drama students regularly put on their own productions, for example, and small comedy shows, hosted in cafes and theatrical bars can also be worth a look in.
In order to get to grips with what is good and what isn't to begin with, you'll need to get yourself online. Search for theatre productions in your area and once you have a list of titles, locations and names, search for reviews of the play.
It is always a good idea to read what the professional critics have to say – these people do, after all, know what they are talking about – but it's also just as important to read comments and thoughts written by so-called ordinary audience members, like yourself. While the critics are concerned with a set of academic principles, the everyday viewer is not.
A trip to theatre makes for a refreshing change. If you're keen to experience a great stage show, remember not to discount local productions and to read a wide range of review pieces in order to determine what you will enjoy watching the most.