Standing tickets may be the cheapest way to see a show in London, but still, standing is a bitch (to put it bluntly). I stood through the ballet earlier this week and Othello this weekend and both were over 3 hours, not including all the time spent standing in the queue to get the best spot. By the end my knees were no longer functioning and my lower back was in agony.

There's really no way to make 3+ hours of standing truly pleasant, but at least it can be mostly bearable. If you've got a standing ticket for the Globe Theatre, I would recommend getting there at least half an hour before your show starts and joining the line in front of door #4. Bring something to sit on, because the next chance you'll get to rest your tired legs will be intermission. Once the doors open, try to get a spot right next to the stage. That will give you something to lean on during the show. Or, you can get a spot on the edge of the standing section so you can lean back against the wall there, though the view may not be as stellar.

For next time (which is actually tomorrow, as Othello is good enough to see twice), I'm going to bring something to take turns resting a foot on, like perhaps my outdated copy of Lonely Planet Britain. Hopefully that will make standing less painful. Or, I may join the people who enjoy a little liquid analgesic (beer) during the performances!