How to use the online timer
As the matinee resumes after the interval, you start the countdown for a second time and settle back into your seat. Ninety-four minutes can cover the remaining scenes while giving you a quiet reference for when the curtain may fall, especially if you have a train, restaurant booking or timed entry elsewhere in central London afterwards.
During the second half, the timer tab may slip behind a digital programme, messaging app or another browser page. The countdown should continue while it is in the background, although your phone’s sound settings, battery-saving mode or browser permissions may prevent the alert from being heard. With the screen dimmed, an audible signal is more useful than repeatedly checking the display and distracting people nearby.
When the signal sounds, treat it as the start of your spare-time window rather than the exact moment to leave. A matinee can finish a little earlier or later because the interval, applause and final curtain are not fixed to the minute. Allow room to collect a coat, move through the foyer and reach the Tube or bus stop before the next commitment.
Common questions
Can the interval make a West End matinee run beyond this countdown?
Yes. The published running time may include an interval of approximate length, and applause or a delayed restart can extend the visit. Keep the next commitment flexible enough to absorb a small overrun.
What if the matinee finishes before the second countdown ends?
Use the remaining time as your buffer for leaving the theatre and crossing the busy West End streets. If the signal comes first, stay seated until the performance has finished and the house lights rise.
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