Why is the theatre so expensive?

Why is the theatre so expensive?
My local theatre is state subsidised luckily (still kinda expensive but not that much), but they're doing Faust nearby and I was looking into tickets, turns out it's $200+ per person for the absolutely cheapest seats.

>have esoteric interest
>surprised when it's expensive

I wouldn't be able to afford going to the opera if it weren't subsidized, but I still think that an art should be able to survive commercially on its own merits. If there aren't any rich as fuck patrons, or if regular people don't enjoy the art enough, then the art should probably be left to die.

So, we need either the aristocracy or the people, and if we have neither, there is no art, only memes now.

>but I still think that an art should be able to survive commercially on its own merits
Philistines can't appreciate or even recognize the sublime.

>the sublime in theatre

what? do you think the actors will harm you?

where do you live that has state subsidised theatre?

Faust isn't exactly "esoteric" matey

Faust is definitely 'esoteric' when considered in the scope of the greater modern cultural landscape.

€70 is expensive for opera/ballet here, and even box seats are rarely over €100. Usually you can get theatre tickets for €15 or less, depending on the theatre and the night.

We don't want poor people stinking up the place. This isn't a feudalistic society where the plebs are allowed to watch Shakespeare plays; this is a Randian society where we objectify people for their class.

you idiot. faust is one of the most popular operas ever. it was pretty much a staple at the royal opera house for years. there was a two week run of it a couple of years ago.