...but a theatre trip is healthy!

A TRIP to the theatre is not just an enjoyable night out... it’s good for your fitness too, scientists say.

Seeing a show has the same effect on the heart as half an hour of cardio exercise, research suggests.

Heart monitors showed that people watching the musical Dreamgirls reached up to 70 per cent of their maximum heart rate, particularly before the interval and close to the end. It is thought this was caused by the drama on stage and the emotions it triggered.

The rise in heart rate was similar to that seen in tennis players in rallies, according to the study by University College London and Lancaster University, in collaboration with ticket provider Encore Tickets.