Avenue Q London: Closing 3 January, No Singing Along, and a Lift That Only Reaches the Stalls

Avenue Q is back in the West End for what the producers call a strictly limited season, and it closes on 3 January 2027. Some ticket sites still show 30 October as the end date. That one is out of date: the Official London Theatre listing, which is run by the trade body, shows the closing date as 3 January, with tickets from £28 on every date in October.

It’s at the Shaftesbury Theatre, which describes itself as the largest independent theatre in the West End. The show is the three-time Tony Award-winning puppet musical, directed by the original Broadway director Jason Moore, with the original puppet designer Rick Lyon, and it runs for 2 hours 15 minutes including an interval.

Please don’t sing along

Of all the rules we’ve read for West End theatres, this is the one most likely to catch people out at this show, because it has the sort of songs people want to join in with. The Shaftesbury asks audiences to refrain from singing along unless one of the performers encourages it, so the whole room can enjoy the evening. The theatre also says the cast can’t take special requests, which rules out on-stage announcements and signed programmes, although you’re welcome to wait at the stage door to ask for autographs in person.

Photography isn’t allowed during the show, but you can take photos and videos during the curtain call, and the theatre asks you to tag it on Instagram if you post them.

Age and content

It’s rated 13 and over with parental guidance advised. Babies and toddlers under 3 aren’t permitted, and children under 16 must attend and sit with someone over 18. The production contains strobe lighting, strong language and adult themes, which is the polite version of what the puppets get up to. Booster seats are free, first come, first served, and are in high demand at weekends and in school holidays when they may be limited to children and people of short stature.

Access: the lift only goes to the stalls

The theatre has been renovated so that the stalls and the 1911 Bar are fully accessible, and it says plainly that its lift connects the ground floor and the stalls only. Wheelchair non-transfer spaces are in the stalls. If you want to transfer to a seat, you can use any aisle seat in the stalls or the low-numbered seats at the front of the Royal Circle, provided you can climb a small number of steps. Staff will look after your wheelchair during the show and bring it back at the interval, and the theatre has a wheelchair you can use if you ask the box office beforehand.

There are three ways to book access tickets. You can ring the box office on 020 7379 5399 (Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm) or email boxoffice@shaftesburytheatre.com, and no access card is needed. You can register for the free Shaftesbury Digital Access Pass through Nimbus, or you can buy a Nimbus Access Card for £15, which lasts three years and works at other participating venues. The theatre has a radio frequency system with sets on request, adaptor loops for hearing aids with a t-coil, and welcomes assistance dogs, which can sit with you or be looked after by staff. At the time we looked, the Official London Theatre listing showed no access performances scheduled for Avenue Q, although the Shaftesbury says it regularly presents captioned, BSL-interpreted, audio-described and relaxed performances, so keep an eye on the show page.

Bags, drinks and getting in late

The theatre can’t store a bag larger than 35 x 17 x 42cm, roughly a standard rucksack, and suitcases aren’t allowed in the auditorium at all. All bags are searched on the way in, and there is luggage storage nearby. Food and alcohol bought outside aren’t permitted. Latecomers are held and admitted at a suitable break in the performance, and if seating you in your own seat would disrupt the audience you may be offered another seat until the interval. The policy can vary by show at the producers’ request.

There’s no dress code, but the theatre has several staircases and recommends sensible shoes. If you’re after better seats on the night, upgrades may be available from the box office on some performances for £15. Tickets are non-refundable, but you can exchange them for a small fee up to 24 hours before the performance. Lost property is kept for a month, and you can call the stage door on 020 7379 3345 to ask.

The Shaftesbury Theatre is at 210 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8DP. Its VIP packages start from £45, and its Princes Package, for up to 20 guests in a private room, is £275 per show.

Where to go next

Cheap theatre tickets covers lotteries and day seats, and TKTS sells on-the-day tickets for it.

The Devil Wears Prada and the best West End shows cover what else is on, and Soho covers the streets around the Shaftesbury.