If you’ve got a fan of Broadway or West End shows in your life, and are looking for a gift, you can’t go wrong with something related to their favourite hobby.
What to buy musical theatre fans?
Whether they’re an avid theatre-goer, an aspiring musical theatre writer, or dream of being on stage themselves, they’re sure to be delighted with these gifts for musical theatre lovers. From stocking fillers to big-ticket presents, here are some musical theatre gifts to suit every budget – in no particular order.
1. Tickets to a show
Whether their favourite show is coming to town, a brand new musical is hitting the stage, there’s one gift that every musical theatre lover will love: tickets to see a musical. Plus, if you gift them two tickets, they’re almost certain to bring you as their plus one – so it’s a present to yourself, too.
You might even want to make a weekend of it, whisking them away to see a show in another city – or even in one of the homes of musical theatre, Broadway in New York or the West End in London.
2. Musical merchandise
Of course, tickets to a show don’t come cheap, so if you’re on a limited budget, musical merchandise is also sure to make their heart sing. Whether it’s a mug featuring their favourite lyrics or a sweater featuring iconic characters, merchandise from a musical will remind them of the show every time they use it.
3. Scrapbook
Many musical fans keep lots of mementos from all the shows they’ve seen. Rather than keeping their old tickets and playbills in a box under their bed, why not gift them a scrapbook so they can create a beautiful book that will transport them to magical places every time they open it?
Flipping through the pages, they’ll relive the excitement of seeing each of those shows for the first time. Gift them a set of coloured pens and some fun stickers along with the scrapbook, and they can add their own twist: writing out lyrics or their memories of the shows, or simply adding some pops of colour and decoration.
4. The gift of learning
If your friend or family member has always dreamed of seeing their name in lights, or if they have big ambitions to write the next Broadway hit, there’s no one better to learn from than Sir Tim Rice, famous for writing the lyrics for some of the most famous musicals in the world including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Lion King and Aladdin.
In his BBC Maestro course, Writing and Performing Musical Theatre, Sir Tim takes you through exactly what it takes to write, produce and perform in a hit musical, making it the perfect gift for serious musical theatre lovers. They can learn at their own pace, with no deadlines, and they’ll have access to the course materials for life so they can keep coming back for inspiration when they need it.
5. Singing or dancing lessons
If your loved one has always dreamed of being on the stage, the gift of singing or dancing lessons will take them one step closer to realising their dreams. As well as being an incredibly practical gift, it’s also an extremely touching one. They’ll appreciate the thought you’ve put into finding a gift that will help them to pursue their passions – and even if they don’t get an audition straight away, it’s sure to give them an even deeper appreciation of everything that’s involved in performing on stage.
6. Customised playbill or art print
If you know they’re a huge fan of Les Misérables, they won’t stop talking about The Book of Mormon, or they love Evita, why not give them a piece of art that captures their favourite show? A customised playbill with their name on it, a special playbill from the first time their favourite show was staged, or a more abstract print that references a special show in a more subtle way – whatever you choose, there are plenty of ways to bring their love of musical theatre into their homes.
7. Personalised notebook and pen
For playwrights and lyricists, inspiration may strike at any time. A personalised notebook and pen is a thoughtful yet practical gift for the aspiring theatre writer. They can easily pop it in a pocket or bag to carry around with them when they’re out and about, so whether they’re inspired by a conversation they overhear or the scenery they see, they can quickly and easily jot down their thoughts.
8. Writing workshop
Another great gift idea for aspiring writers is a workshop or course. They both provide a structured environment in which they can hone their craft, learn from experienced professionals, and receive constructive feedback on their ideas and writing.
It also offers an invaluable opportunity to meet like-minded individuals, giving them the chance to meet and learn from others on the course who are also trying to learn what it takes to turn their ideas into a captivating stage show.
9. Theatre-goer kit
A thoughtful gift for regular theatre-goers is a small kit packed full of everything they need for a night at a musical. You could include things like:
- A reusable water bottle
- A tin of hard-boiled sweets or other (quiet to eat) snacks
- Packet of tissues, for emotional performances
- A cosy scarf or shawl for chilly theatres
You could put it all in a branded tote bag from their favourite show, making a great two-in-one gift.
10. Magazine subscription
Although your friend or family loves musical theatre, they may not get to shows as often as they’d like. But with a subscription to a musical theatre magazine, they’ll get a delivery full of musical goodness straight to their door every month. From reviews of the latest shows to interviews with cast members, magazines are a great way for any musical lover to immerse themselves even deeper in that world – even if it’s been a while since they last saw a show.
Choosing the perfect musical theatre gift
The ideal gift all comes down to your loved one. Do they love watching musical theatre, or are they keen to turn their hobby into a career through writing or performing?
Wherever their passions lie, you’re sure to find something they’ll love, from tickets to see a show to personalised merchandise, and from singing lessons to a course by Oscar, Grammy, Olivier, and Tony Award-winning lyricist, Sir Tim Rice.
Give the gift of knowledge
Surprise a special someone with a year's access to BBC Maestro or gift them a single course.