Tonight there is a big magic show in town. You did not buy tickets before — so you go to the theatre and ask at the desk. Time to be friendly and polite.
It is Friday evening. There is a big magic show in town tonight. Everybody wants to see it. You did not buy your tickets before — you forgot! Now you are at the theatre.
You want two tickets. You want good seats, where you can see the stage. And you do not want to pay too much money. But there is one problem: a small red sign says "SOLD OUT".
Behind the desk is the clerk. They sell the tickets. Sometimes, when a show is "sold out", there are still one or two tickets left — people give tickets back. So do not go home yet. Ask nicely, and maybe you are lucky!
Warm up — talk for one minute
Do you like going to shows — music, theatre, or the cinema? What was the last thing you saw?
You want to see a show, but it is "sold out". Do you go home, or do you ask anyway? Why?
Who's who
You
The Ticket Buyer 🎩
Friendly and polite. You want two tickets, good seats, and a fair price — and you really want to see the show tonight.
The other person
The Clerk 🎟️
Kind and helpful. The show looks "sold out", but they can often find a seat or two — for people who ask nicely.
Next: learn the phrases you need in the next tab. Then see them in a real conversation. Look at the polite words: please, thank you, I would like, can I. It is OK to speak slowly. If you do not understand, you can say "Sorry, can you say that again?"
Useful Phrases 🧰
Here are the phrases for this conversation. Read each one and say it out loud once. Choose the ones you like. Keep this page open when you practise.
The shape of this conversation
1 · Ask for tickets2 · Seats and price3 · Sold out4 · Check and thank
It's a map, not a script. Real talk can skip steps or go back.
Cover it later, when you want to test yourself.
When you're the ticket buyer
🎟 Ask for tickets
"I would like two tickets for tonight, please."
"Can I have two tickets, please?"
💺 Seats and price
"What time does it start?"
"How much are the tickets?"
🔴 Sold out
"Are there any tickets left?"
"That's a pity. Is there anything you can do?"
💛 Check and thank
"Can we see the stage from there?"
"Thank you so much! You are very kind."
When you're the clerk
"How many tickets?"
"Sorry, we are sold out."
"I have two seats at the back."
"That is sixty pounds."
When something changes
"Is there a cheaper seat?"
"Can I pay by card?"
"Is there a break?"
When you need help
"Sorry, can you say that again, please?"
"Can you speak more slowly, please?"
"Do you mean…?"
"How do you say … in English?"
Speed round 🎯
Draw a card. Say what you would say, out loud. Then look at one answer.
Press the button to start.
Try a few more rounds with the toolkit covered. When it feels easy, you are ready.
The Conversation 💬
Read it out loud, one person each, then change. Find the phrases from your toolkit. Listen for the polite words.
ClerkGood evening! How can I help you?
YouHello. I would like two tickets for the magic show tonight, please.
ClerkLet me see… Oh, I am sorry. Tonight is sold out. All the seats are gone.
YouOh, that's a pity. Is there anything you can do?
ClerkWait… let me check. Sometimes people give tickets back. Yes! I have two tickets. But they are at the side.
YouAt the side? Can we see the stage from there?
ClerkYes, you can see the stage. You miss a little bit, but you see all the important parts.
YouOK, good. How much are the tickets?
ClerkThey are fifteen pounds each. So thirty pounds for two.
YouThat's fine. What time does it start?
ClerkThe show starts at eight o'clock. The doors open at half past seven.
YouGreat. Two tickets, please.
ClerkHere you are — two tickets, seats G12 and G13. Enjoy the show!
YouThank you so much! You are very kind.
From memory — don't look up!
1. When you first ask, what does the clerk say about tonight?
2. The clerk says the show is sold out — but then finds two tickets. Why? Where do the tickets come from?
3. What time does the show start, and what time do the doors open?
1. The clerk says sorry — tonight is sold out, and all the seats are gone. 2. Sometimes people give their tickets back to the desk. Two tickets came back, so the clerk can sell them to you. They are seats at the side. 3. The show starts at eight o'clock, and the doors open at half past seven (7:30).
Your Turn 🎭
No script this time. You have a real talk with a real person. You have a goal.
1 · Warm up your voice 🎤
Say each sentence out loud. Use your own words in the gaps.
Ask for tickets. I would like ___ tickets for ___, please.
Seats and price. What time ___?
Sold out. Are there any ___ left?
Check and thank. Can we ___ from there?
2 · The scene 🎬
Pick a situation. Your partner plays the other person.
Your card
Where
The situation
You have
You want
Your ruleAsk "Is there anything you can do?" when it is full.
Who you're talking to
🏆 Get seats you are happy with.
⏱ 3:00
Twist deck
🎲 Something changes
Start the scene. After a minute, draw a card. What it says just happened.
Nothing has changed yet.
3 · Swap seats 🔁
Now you are the other person. Your partner takes your old part.
Your card
WhereThe box office
Your goalSell tickets and help when it is full
Your partnerPlays the ticket buyer now
Draw another twist if you like.
4 · Afterwards ✅
Tick what you did, in either seat.
Phrases I want to use next time
Go again
⚡ Same situation, one more time
Do it again. Draw a twist before you start. Try to do it faster this time.
The Echo 🕰️
A hundred years ago, one man made theatres sell out again and again. His name was Harry Houdini. He was a magician and an escape artist. He got out of chains, locked boxes, and tanks of water.
People waited for hours to see him. Everybody wanted a ticket. Shows were "sold out" all the time — because everyone wanted to be in the room, on the night, to see the impossible.
So when you ask at the desk for a "sold out" show, you are in a very old queue. People have wanted to see magic — and to get that last ticket — for more than a hundred years.