STARS from Kevin Spacey to Felicity Kendal have hit out at the price of West End theatre tickets – claiming ordinary families can no longer afford to go.

Here in Essex, after a family-of-four have stumped up for tickets, travel and food, they could end up spending more than £300.

However, right on our doorstep you can get still enjoy all the drama and excitement of live theatre but at a much more reasonable cost.

Many locals prefer touring productions to the West End.

Serena Dunlop, 19, of Marine Avenue, Leigh, said: “I paid £35 for a ticket to see Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre in London, but we were up in the gods and could only really see the top of the performers’ heads.

“When I saw the same show at the Cliffs, the tickets were cheaper and in a much better position.

“The production was better as well, because the West End version had a Hollyoaks actress as the lead and she was a bit out of tune.

“At the Cliffs, the lead was not a famous star but she had a much better voice and wasn’t just an actress hired to pull crowds.

“I’ll go to touring productions again because they have talented people in and are better value. I am planning on seeing Avenue Q when it comes to Southend and I have already seen Chicago twice here.”

Paul Driscoll, marketing manager at Southend Theatres which runs the Cliffs and Palace Theatre, said there was something for everyone locally.

He added: “In September, we have Starlight Express coming, so to cater for the big set they bring and the West End-style show it is, the top end prices will be £39.50.

“But with other shows without massive stages or big name stars, the ticket prices drop with the most expensive seats costing around £23.50.

“When you consider people living in Southend don’t need to worry about train tickets or extra food costs, it can save a lot of money going local.”

Bosses from the Towngate Theatre in Basildon said they work hard to keep costs for customers at a reasonable rate.

The theatre is owned by Basildon Council, with Kevin Blake, the councillor responsible for leisure services, saying the aim is to keep local interest there and to make a profit.

Mr Blake said: “We are a business, we receive no arts funding, and we do need to make money.

“Each show we book is a business decision, however we are conscious that to survive, the Towngate needs to be a key part of the community and cannot alienate residents by over charging.

“We rarely charge more than £20 for tickets for professional shows. We offer a range of concession and membership discounts and our average price is around £15, which I believe is great value for what we offer.”

We Will Rock You - at the Dominion Theatre, Tottenham Court Road, London.

Top ticket price on June 30 - £72.25 (£64 plus £8.25 booking fee).

Return train ticket price from Southend Victoria: £15.50. Return train ticket price from Basildon: £14. Cost of a two-course meal: £20.15 (Bodean’s Restaurant, Soho).

Total possible spend per person: £107.90 (Southend), £106.40 (Basildon).

Avenue Q - at the Cliffs Pavilion, Station Road, Westcliff.

Top ticket price on June 23 - £32.50. Return train ticket from Basildon: £8.20. Cost of a two-course meal: £9.20 (Spaghetti Junction, London Road, Westcliff).

Total possible spend per person: £49.90.

Possible saving compared to West End: £58 (Southend), £56.50 (Basildon).

Aladdinsane: The Best of Bowie - at the Towngate Theatre, St Martin’s Square, Basildon.

Top ticket price on June 30 - £10.

Return train ticket from Southend Central: £8.20.

Cost of a two-course meal: £14.70 (Grand Central, Miles Gray Road).

Total possible spend: £32.90.

Possible saving compared to West End: £75 (Southend), £73.50 (Basildon).