Frequently asked questions
How First Night works, and the questions people ask most.
- How do I log a show?
- Find the show you want to log, then click the 'Log' button on the show page. You can give it a star rating, write a note, and record the date you saw it. If you can't remember the exact day, you can give the month, the year on its own, or leave the date off altogether. You can also log directly from the quick-log button in the navigation bar.
- Can I add shows I saw years ago?
- Please do. Your diary isn't meant to be a record of what you've seen since joining - it's meant to be a record of your theatre-going, and most of that has already happened. Log anything you can remember, at whatever precision you remember it: an exact date, a month, a year, or no date at all. If the show isn't in the catalogue yet, add it as you log it.
- Can I keep track of shows I'm going to?
- Yes, and it's worth keeping separate from your watchlist. A plan is for a night you're actually going: pick the date, add the time and a note about who you're meeting or where you're eating, and it appears under Upcoming. Once the date has passed, First Night asks how it was so the plan can become a diary entry. The watchlist stays looser - shows you'd like to see one day, with no date attached.
- Can I track shows I want to see?
- Yes. Every show page has a 'Want to see' button. Add shows you're interested in and they'll appear in your watchlist. You can also add notes to remind yourself why you wanted to see it. Once a show stops being someday and becomes a night you're going, add a dated plan for it instead.
- Do I need to have seen a show to use it?
- Not at all. You can browse shows, build a watchlist of things you want to see, and follow other users before you've logged anything. First Night is just as useful for planning your next night out as it is for recording past ones.
- Can I follow other people?
- Yes. You can follow any user on First Night. Their activity will appear in your personal feed, so you can see what they've been watching and what they thought of it.
- Is First Night free to use?
- Yes. First Night is completely free to use. Create an account, log shows, follow people, and explore - no subscription or payment required.
- How are show details added?
- Show and venue data is sourced from public databases and feeds - Wikidata, Wikipedia, Ticketmaster, and venue box offices - and checked by the First Night team. Descriptions are drafted with help from an AI model and then read and approved by an editor before they go live. We're building towards a complete record of UK theatre, but we're not there yet, so if a show you've seen isn't listed, add it as you log it (or suggest it) and it becomes part of the catalogue.
- Can I suggest a missing show or credit?
- Yes. If a show isn't listed, you can submit a suggestion from the shows page. You can also suggest missing cast or creative credits on any show page. Suggestions are reviewed by the First Night team before being added.
- Is First Night affiliated with theatres or ticket sellers?
- No. First Night is an independent platform. We are not affiliated with any theatre, production company, or ticketing provider. Show information is sourced from public data.
- Can I delete my account?
- Yes, and you don't need to ask us. Open your settings and use the Danger zone to delete your account and the data attached to it. You can also change your newsletter and theme preferences there.
Still have questions? Get in touch - we're happy to help.