Parties don’t have to be all about bars and nightclubs. A night out at the theatre is always a welcome change.

During our celebrations for the launch of the Evite.co.uk website, we organised a theatre outing to see Chicago the musical, followed by drinks and dancing at the Crystal club on Wells Street in London. View photos of the star-studded Evite theatre night.

The British theatre scene is absolutely buzzing at the moment — from camp musicals to gripping dramas to leftfield meanderings — so go make a night of it.

If in doubt, dress up. Theatres don’t generally have a specific dress code, and it’s not like you’re going to get turned away by a bouncer, but if you’re going to enjoy a bit of culture you might as well look the part.

Ball-gowns and tuxedoes are probably a step too far, so go for something smart but a little bit chic — classic dresses and jewellery for the ladies and smart jackets and shirts for the gents.

If you’re going to a small, arty theatre to see something a bit more challenging, a combination of corduroy and facial hair should allow you to fit in perfectly.

The night really needs to break down into three parts. First there’s the pre-theatre dinner and drinks. Most restaurants anywhere near a theatre will offer you a specially priced three course menu which will be delivered to you at breakneck speed.

Then there’s the theatre itself. Get to your seats in plenty of time and make sure your phone is switched off. Failure to do either of these will see you torn to shreds by an angry mob of rampaging theatre lovers.

Once the play has finished it’s essential that you find a bar where you can sit around and warmly praise / violently savage the performance. (We meant it when we said before that parties don’t have to be all about bars and nightclubs, but that doesn’t mean there’s not room for just a couple of drinks.)

The pre-theatre menu should be all about decent quality at high speed. You’re not going to have time for a proper blow-out unless you start pretty much straight after lunch.

You can always try to stave off hunger until after the play, but remember that loud stomach growls will go down badly with those around you.

Theatres are one of the last bastions of the single portion ice cream tub with the little wooden spade, so leave space for one of those for the sake of nostalgia if nothing else.

There are a couple of good reasons not to drink too much before going to the theatre. Firstly there’s the genuine threat of you feeling the need for a nice cosy nap just as the second act gathers pace. And even more importantly, the dangers of a painfully swollen bladder should not be underestimated. You’ll end up either risking the wrath of everyone else in the theatre by having to manoeuvre your way to an aisle mid-scene, or having to sit for an hour unable to concentrate on anything other than your overwhelming need to go to the loo. So eschew the pints of lager and have a nice small gin and tonic instead. After the performance, though, the sky's the limit.

1.	Cracked Actor / David Bowie
2.	The Curtain Falls / Marc Almond
3.	Broadway / Ella Fitzgerald
4.	Shakespeare / Akala
5.	It Ended on an Oily Stage / British Sea Power
6.	West End Girls / Pet Shop Boys
7.	Matinee / Franz Ferdinand
8.	Bad Actress / Terrorvision
9.	Intermission / Scissor Sisters
10.	Ice Cream / New Young Pony Club

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