STALLS
The Dress Circle overhangs the stalls at row Q. The top of the stage is not visible
from row W back.
The stalls is divided into front and rear sections by a wide aisle across the
front of row Q.
The front section is split into three blocks - centre and two side blocks by
aisles.
The stage is normally high and wide, with those in the front rows having to look
sharply upwards. Reader Gem reports that for "Wicked" it is much lower, and
looking sharply up isn't now an issue.
Stalls "Day Seats:"
Stalls row A are being sold as "day seats" at a great price for all
performances. Monkey feeling is that all are great, and it highlights 15 to 34 in particular.
Worries that the conductor may be in front of some central seats
around A 24 / 25 / 26 have proven unfounded. It
would sit in any seat in the row, though, given the hefty discount on
offer!
Readers Karen and Peter say,
"Front row is great but make sure you try to get seats 16 to 25 as a lot of the
action takes place here."
Another reader endorses this,
"I got tickets
A22 to 24 and have to say they must be one of the best bargains in
London. The view of all the action is amazing because you do not have to
look up to see it all."
As does another,
"A19 to 21. Amazing, perfect view the best seats in the house."
Monkey regular Liam comments,
"A bargain on the front row - although I'd ensure you were as central as
possible as many cast members block your view at a couple of moments towards the
side."
A reader reports of A36:
"For £25 this is a really good seat. I have sat on the far side at the other
side of the stage and the view here is much better (and I didn't see Helen
Dallimore's pants, as I did from B11 - see below). The odd bit of a scene was blocked by chorus members, but
all in all I caught most of the action."
Reader Gem reports:
"A 25/26. Now I really cannot put into words how amazing the seats were. They
have the best view from any front row I have ever sat in! The stage is
relatively low and you miss nothing, you can even see peoples feet. You don't
need to look up at all and there is no restriction whatsoever from the
conductor. Also the legroom? I could have lay down on the floor in front of me
and still had room to move!"
while reader Sarah Clarke says,
"I can't rave enough about the day seats for this show!! Only £15 (now £25
- editor) for a front row seat! I'm the sort of person who
likes to be 'up close and personal' with the actors. I like to see their facial
expressions, hear every comment, witness things you can only see from the front.
I also like to loose myself in a show - envisage myself in Oz with no other
audience heads to confuse the illusion. If you can relate to any of that you
have to get the day seats!
There is no restricted view like some theatre day seats. At the Apollo Victoria
you can see the whole stage. The only effect you don't get the full benefit of
is the dragon fixed above the stage and green lighting that reaches up into the
balcony when the characters arrive at the Emerald City."
Another reader says,
"I day queued for Wicked, sat Row A24 in the Stalls and it was perfect.
The music was well balanced and not too loud. It's quite obvious that
you have a great view, especially at the finale of Act1. Stunning.
Though I have to admit, that first timers should see it from farther
back first."
He also found this seat preferable to M36 in the circle, which had no
legroom for his 6ft 2 tall frame to be comfortable - his advice being for the
tall to take the front row day-seats first every time...
Reader Andy B says,
"The only negative thing about sitting in the front row is that you lose a
lot of the impact of the set, which comes right out over the proscenium arch
and into the auditorium. But the fact that you get so close to the
marvellous costumes and stunning actors more than makes up for it. You also
get closer to seeing things done with smoke that you'd never imagine!"
Reader Lauren sums it up, saying,
"I took the advice given by many people that the day seats for 'Wicked' were
excellent value and have a fantastic view, and I'm so glad I did! The stage was
low and I had a perfect, clear and close-up view of every moment of the show. I
also had acres of legroom and no annoying heads in front of me - I couldn't have
really asked for any more, and all for £25!"
Stalls, front section, central block:
Moving back a row or two in the central blocks the monkey would pick row
C before B for the same money as, despite the lower stage for "Wicked" the
viewing angle is slightly more comfortable. Still, it also knows that many
dedicated fans won't mind at all!
Reader "Barfly" says,
"I sat in stalls C22 on the first preview night of "Saturday Night Fever" in
2004 and can understand why you made it red too. The rake there is non-existent
and although admittedly I'm shorter, the person in front's head blocked a lot of
the action. Sat in stalls D15 later, and that wasn't too bad, at least I got to
see all the action.
Stalls B20, which although you've got marked as red I was very impressed with
- though admittedly the seat in front of me was the only seat in that row
unoccupied so effectively I was in the front row. Admittedly you can't see the
actors feet, but worth suffering for such a good seat. I also found
that most people in the front row really seem to slouch in their seats and
look sharply upwards (and then complain about neck-ache, silly people)!"
Another reader comments,
"We sat in row C of the stalls 24 to 29 for "Wicked." Fantastic seats with a
great view of all the action and the emotion."
Reader Dawn adds,
"I have now seen the show ("Wicked") four times and have sat in a variety of
seats.
Row D of the stall was a very different experience - very powerful
and personal. Great as I'd already seen the show - but maybe you miss
out a little on the whole effect. I would book these / or closer
again - as I saw lots of little things I hadn't noticed from further
back."
Reader K Elliott reports of a discounted ticket:
"I was seated in row D of the stalls, 30, 31, so on the end of the central
aisle, these offered very good value for money, priced at £20 (now £45 -
editor), and would highly recommend".
Only when discounted, though, notes the monkey.... as another reader says of the
row,
"I saw Wicked from stalls seat D30. I didn't feel I was too close to the stage,
neither did I feel a sore neck. But there was very little leg room and I was
sitting beside a rather large American woman who took up her own seat and much
of mine. When we had to let someone in during the second number she refused to
get up and chaos ensued. Also, I was only in row D yet found the sound a
problem."
A reader says of the row behind,
"I have seen Wicked 3 times already and it's "the business", twice in the stalls
row E which was great"
Two rows behind a reader notes,
"I was sat in the centre of row G (G25, G26). Great seats and didn't have to
look up."
Row J seems to have sparked a few issues, perhaps due to
the lower stage used for "Wicked":
Reader Caite feels,
"I was in seat J27... I have to say the view was poor. Although the rake has
just about begun here, it is barely
perceptible and with the stage being fairly low and flat, a good part of the
action was obscured by the head in front of me (and it was only a person of
average height). The seats are at a level where the head could obscure an
entire group of people standing up on stage, so I spent most of the
performance swaying from side to side to see round at what I was missing. I
really couldn't recommend these seats for the money."
another reader, John, agrees,
"Sat in Stalls J24/25 (what should be prime stalls) and experienced the same
problems as Caite. The rake of the seating is barely noticeable. When combined
with the low height of the stage, the close spacing of rows and the lack of any
offset between seats in adjacent rows (why?) it means you can struggle to obtain
a clear view of the stage – I found myself staring at the back of someone’s head
which obscured all action dead centre of the stage! At the interval, when the
man in front stood up, I expected to see some 6’6 giant but the man was only
average height. I think I’d prefer to move back to row Q where the wide aisle
should afford a better view. Myself and my partner actually found that part of
the stalls quite claustrophobic – something I rarely encounter."
Reader James from Finchley said the same,
"Sat in stalls seat J24. Seat was not great value (at £55) as the rake is
completely un-noticeable. A man of average height in front obscured the whole
centre of the stage and I was moving from left to right constantly. In the
interval I walked back a few rows and reckon that even going back to row P will
still give an excellent view as there is a good rake from about K/L and there
are no pillars to obscure the view."
another reader comments,
"After reading reviews here
we paid for top price tickets in the stalls (J22 and 23), what a big
mistake. Out of all the seats in the theatre, the guy with the biggest
head and curliest ridiculous hair had to be sitting in front of me. All I could see was the back of his head!... The seats are not set aside to one another either,
i.e. the seat in the row in front of you will be directly in front of
you rather than to one side where you would be able to see through a gap
between heads. Others around me were finding it hard to see past taller people
in front of them as well given that the rake in the stalls is virtually
non-existent. I would advise you seriously think about this and perhaps sit in
the Circle instead or the first few rows in the Stalls."
yet another says the same,
"We were in the stalls (J22 and J23) these were somewhat disappointing - the
rows are all on one level so if you have a tall person in front of you, you have
to keep dodging their head when characters are centre stage. I suggest for the
stalls either buying tickets further back (from row Q) where the seats slope or
if you want to be near the front don't go in the centre that way you are always
looking diagonally so people in front of you do not get in the way."
The monkey hadn't had a problem here previously,
meanwhile, it notes reader comments and alters advice accordingly. Note that
booster cushions (available from the theatre) may help some, and that the issue
hasn't arisen for others in these seats, but when it does, it is a problem,
hence the highlighting here.
Reader Ali says,
"Excellent seats in row J of the stalls 26 and 27 ... I have seen that other
reviewers didn't like row J- maybe we were lucky not to have tall people in
front! I was able to see details of the fantastic costumes and the facial
expressions. Legroom was ok"
Another reader reports, though:
"Sat in seats J 18, 19 and 20 in the stalls. Fantastic seats could not fault
them. The slope in this part of the stalls is not very steep but it didn't make
any difference. Could not recommend these seats too highly."
The prime seats are in rows K to P where a good rake normally ensures an
excellent view in monkey opinion. Some seats in rows F to P are designated
"premium" and are priced at £85. Exact numbering varies by performance and will
be advised at time of enquiry.
Reader 'Barfly' opines,
" J22 is admittedly a good seat - though not as much rake as at the Dominion
Theatre. Stalls F18, on the aisle, is also a very good seat, admittedly there
was very little rake (used booster cushions) and I had a couple of young kids in
front of me but I saw a lot more than previously."
Reader K Fried says,
"Our seats (stalls K 26 and 27) were AMAZING. I can't imagine better seats for
this show. Close enough to feel part of the show, far back enough to allow a
small amount of illusion. We had to look up to get the full effect of the
dragon, but I really think that it should be that way. After all, he's meant to
be looking down over OZ."
A reader comments of M 24 and 25,
"Other readers of Theatremonkey have commented on the lack of rake in the front
centre stalls. This is a problem but we were very fortunate to have two children
in front of us (there is no off centre seats i.e. they are all behind one
another in this block). Consequently we enjoyed a perfectly central
uninterrupted view of one of the most lavish sets I have ever seen. Close enough
to see faces and expressions but far enough away to get the whole effect of the
set and which does not restrict itself just to the stage (genius usage of the
LED fabulousness that is the Apollo Vic)."
Reader Peter Rose says of his school group visit,
"We were spread across the front section of the stalls. I sat in row N
seat 19 and had perfect view of the stage, however this was because no
one was sitting in front of me (lucky lucky). The seats in the front
section are poorly raked and hardly staggered which means your full view
can be blocked if you are smaller. Some pupils needed cushions kindly
supplied by the staff, to help them see. So I would pick front dress
circle or the first 5 rows of the stalls. Some pupils commented that
some of the action was missed as they were on the ends (seats 3-7) and
sight lines are not great (I have trained them well!!)"
Reader Rob says,
"My seats - front stalls row N 23, 24 and 25 were perfect - best I've had. They
seem much higher than the row in front."
Of row O, theatremonkey regular seat connoisseur James reports,
"Sat in Stalls O25 and O26 for 'Wicked.' Still can’t seem to
find the best place to sit in this theatre. The rake is definitely better
here than it is further forward, but the fact that the seats are all
directly in front of each other rather than staggered meant that a person of
only average height still managed to partially block my view. That said,
row O was a great place to see the show without moving my head constantly
from left to right due to the wide stage and there was no neckache as it’s
at a good level to see the stage. The sound is good here too and you don’t
feel far away from the action
On another visit I sat in Stalls O20 andO21 and with a slightly shorter
person in front of me this time, the view was the best I've had for the show".
Reader Mark comments of central row P,
"Good seats in P20 and P21 for this, Monkey is spot on in rating these as
amongst the best in the house. Only slight issue is the rake isn't quite as
good as might be desired, particularly if your companion is a bit of a
Munchkin and sat behind someone with height to spare. Other than that they
are a great spot where you can take in the whole stage and still be close
enough to take in the expressions on actors faces."
Reader Holly M opines,
"near the back of the front section, great seats with a good view"
Reader Peter Rose has the last word, putting the case for both front and rear section stalls
seating,
"I have seen the show twice now, first time in the stalls row R 24 and 25 and
second time stalls row C seats 18 and 19. I had an amazing experience is both,
but it depends on what you prefer. Row R enables you to take in the whole
stage and offers excellent views and sound, though there is a walk way in
front so people are able to walk past during the performance which can be
annoying, especially during a good number. Row C lets you become completely
absorbed in the action. I love seeing the actors close up and thought this
was fab. You are slightly looking up but this is a small matter really.
Defying gravity is awesome and I was blown away by this in both seats, row C
was fantastic for this song."
Stalls, front section, side blocks:
In the side blocks the first and last few seats are at the far sides of the
theatre, outside the proscenium arch and have a strange viewing angle. These are
discounted for restricted
view for "Wicked," so they become a
possibility, feels the monkey (see below).
Reader "Barfly" underlines this:
"I went to see Saturday Night Fever in 2004 and sat in stalls seats B33 to 35. The end of the stage either
side juts out and is very high meaning that the back left of the stage couldn't
be seen from where we were sitting. In fact my dad, who was sat in B35, hardly saw
anything on the near left hand side of the stage even though he's six
foot tall! These seats should really be avoided when they're full price. You'd have to be about
eight feet tall to see some of the action, and nobody should pay full price to 'see' a dismembered voice!
I also doubt you can see anything from seats B37 and 38 because the stage is
so high. I don't think the reduction in price justifies such a bad view. Admittedly
the seats mentioned hadn't been sold at the show I went to but I
felt theatregoers should be aware of this."
Also from the side blocks of row B a reader reports for "Wicked,"
"I was sat in seat B11, marked red by Theatremonkey. I totally agree
with this assessment. Soundwise it is fine, but because it is so far
over the side of the stage, you miss some of the action upstage left.
The way the chorus are arranged in some scenes also prevents you seeing
all the action, which is not great if you don't know the story. I also
got a very good look at:
a) the stage hands in the wings, and
b) Helen Dallimore's pants at least twice in every scene (which some may
see as a selling point).
The monkey notes comment b) but feels it can say nothing except
advise the performer concerned that cycle shorts under dress might be
helpful...
Reader Kirstin says,
" I just wanted to put in a good word for seat B17 in the stalls. Though this is
the second row, its position on the aisle and the fact that the front row starts
further across means that this seat is effectively a front row seat in the
second row - there won't be anyone in front of you! Plenty of space and a
completely clear view of the stage."
From row C a reader says,
"Seats 32 and 33. These are the aisle seats on the side front stalls block and
this is the second time I've sat on the aisle on a side block and strongly feel
that any aisle seat on either side block from Row C back to P are brilliant.
Because of the angle your view will be totally un-interrupted and the seat in
from it are usually very good too. My seat in Row C on the aisle was perfect
bearing in mind it was my third viewing. I had no one sat in front of me in Row
B so when Elphie, Glinda and Co, were my side of the stage it felt like they
were singing directly to me. Awesome. Like others have said before though, for a
first viewing I think ideally it's better to sit further back - I bought my
parents tickets in P16 and 17 which was a few rows back from my last seats and
they loved their view. Having now watched the show from both sides of the 'side
stalls' I would recommend labelling Seat numbers C17 back to P17 and C32 back to
P32 as great seats. As mentioned previously the seats next to these won't be as
good but they'll still be good ones."
Moving further back, reader Roddy reports,
"we were sat to the side of the Stalls in rows G, H, and J seats 32 to 45ish...
These seats were excellent and a fun and most memorable time was had by all,
with no viewing problems whatsoever like others have mentioned on Monkey's site.
A very clear uninterrupted view.
For any musical or show, I would always recommend front Stalls as the best
seating."
also in the side blocks, reader Trevor Chenery comments,
"We were sitting in row H 40 to 44 which are in red on your seat plan. True the
left-side stage action when the cast are not very far forward misses a bit of a
view but, overall, you lose nothing. One important thing to bear in mind about
this show and others - is that a lot of the close-up action takes place on
the left side of the stage and rows A to J seats 35 to the 40s really get the
best and most intimate view of what is happening in key scenes.
Also, that night, seats in 35 to 42 in rows B to E were unsold. Any late-comer,
personal-callers at the box might enquire about availability of these if they
desperately want to see the show at short notice or to try and do a deal.
What your other correspondents don't seem to take into account with regards to
"seat rake" is that the theatre was originally built as a cinema and as such the
stalls seating in the first 20 rows needed to fall away from the stage level to
make the screen visible."
Another reader cautions of the side block in this row at top price,
"I'm still not convinced that the sound is right - I have no idea how that is
adjusted - or if it can be - but where principals are singing with the full
company e.g. in 'One Short Day' they are not quite prominent enough - Idina
and Helen were not sufficiently 'picked out' when singing the 'there are
buildings tall as quoxwood trees/dress salons/and
libraries/palaces/museums/a hundred strong'. I was in E36 in the stalls -
which is very much to the side of the theatre - perhaps it was a quirk from
that position - but I could have done with a more treble sound to the
principal vocals from there and picked them out even more in the mix. But
what do I know?"
Reader Moon agrees,
"Don't pay £60 (£55 when I saw it) to sit in Stalls, row E, seats
8/9. These are top price tickets and yes, you guessed it, they had a restricted
view. We could not see a full half of the back of the stage. Thankfully, most of
the action took place further forward."
One row further back, a reader reports,
"Row M15, 16 and 17: Researched these seats and came up trumps. Superb. The
raking just comes into effect and the aisle location means that the person in 17
has a total unrestricted view. Plenty of key scenes straight ahead too. If
you're paying top price for tickets, these are near-perfect seats"
Reader Di says,
"Just to add to your conversation about seats at the Apollo Victoria (Wicked). I
really wouldn't advise people to pay top price to sit in the stalls N1 to 5.
Unfortunately we did, and we couldn't see half the action. A little dickie bird
tells me that prices for N1 to 4 have been reduced for the next booking period -
but I would still say that if you want to see the full effect of this show don't
sit in these seats. (Interesting that no-one in the side blocks gave a standing
ovation at the performance I saw - probably because they only saw half the
show!)"
Moving further back, Hannah M rates stalls P36 to 39 highly for "Wicked."
Another reader says,
"We had seats P42 and 43 in the stalls and we were a little worried as you had
these as red on your seating plan. Yes, we did have to view the stage at a
slight angle but we didn’t miss any of the action on stage and had a fantastic
view of all of the characters. The tickets at full price were worth every penny
and we would recommend them to anyone."
Seat prices take account of the various
quirks of staging which cut into the view of the audience at the ends of rows at
times. With the huge drops in price, the monkey rates the end seats in all rows
at "fair" value - you will get what you pay for, and some should feel they have
done very well. The seats it particularly likes after the prices change are in
rows N to P 40 to 45, M 40 to 43, H to L 39, G 9, 38, 39, E and F 36 to 38 and D
36 and 37. All previously top price but now at a reduced fee you should feel you
are getting more than pay for, feels the monkey. It would take the furthest back
rows first, for maximum advantage, though.
In the corners, it also liked B 13 and 14, C 12 and 13, D 11 and 12 and E 10
and 11 too. Not quite as cheap as seats on the other side, but a reasonable
alternative at similar prices to "day seats," it feels.
Stalls, rear section, central blocks:
The rear section of the theatre is split into four blocks - two central
blocks, two outer blocks, by aisles.
Row Q offers exceptional legroom as it has an aisle in front. Central seats
10 to 37 are good value due to this. Row Q is also haunted, though the spook has failed to put in an appearance
recently. Some seats in row Q are designated "premium" and are priced at
£85. Exact numbering varies by performance and will be advised at time of
enquiry.
A reader says,
"Me and two other friends went again to see Wicked (Wednesday matinee 21st March
2007) and sat in stalls S21-23. I couldn't ask for better seats, all the stage
was visible including the time dragon perfectly. Furthermore, we were close
enough to take in the expressions and also detail of the props themselves. In
addition we felt as if we saw everything the stage had to offer, being at this
distance. The seats do provide binoculars for 50p but honestly you don't really
need them - however they are quite cool to look through at the map in the
opening of the production! For £60 a ticket I did feel they were a little
expensive yet still was highly pleased - great view, great sound and also great
leg room. I would definitely be experiencing Oz from these seats again!!!!!"
Reader Julia reports,
"We were sat in the stalls row S24 to 33. The view... was ideal to see
everything and to feel totally included in OZ"
Rows back to ZD are at
top price. The monkey feels that central U to X became just
fair value, but wouldn't go further back for £60. Instead take the Dress Circle
for the same price, unless you really need a lot of legroom. The circle seats
will be closer to the stage.
A reader agrees,
"Row Z 28 and 29. Paid £40 for these £60 seats when visiting the Box Office on
the day (local discount offer, Editor) and were good value for the money. My
girlfriend is of average height for a female and her view wasn't brilliant with
someone of average height in front of her, quite far back with low ceiling due
to Circle Overhang but for £40 good seats. For face value of £60 you can get
MUCH better."
Further along the row, another reader says,
"We sat in stalls Z39 and 40.. which I was really worried about but the
view was excellent.. except we couldn’t see the dragon at the top of the
stage, but it didn’t matter."
Rows ZA back in the centre block are somewhat less ambitiously priced. Even
so, the monkey feels you have two choices: Pay this price, sit a long way from
the stage, and have acceptable legroom; OR choose seats in the middle section
centre block row J of the Dress Circle for
the same price, be closer to the stage, but have less legroom... Your call as it
is based on your own physiology!! If you choose stalls, try ZA - over £10 less than
the row in front, for practically the same view!
Reader Rebecca endorses this,
"Our party of 5 was in row ZA of the Stalls seats 19 to 23. The seats were
comfortable, with plenty of legroom (tallest 5' 11"). We found these seats to be
excellent, I was worried about being so far back, but the steep rake allowed for
an excellent view and even the children in our party could see the stage
reasonably well with adults sitting in front. Binoculars were 50p but not really
necessary. The biggest drawback was the heat. It was stiflingly hot. I can't
imagine what it must have been like higher up."
Another reader also agrees,
"Sat in Seats Row ZA in the stalls 28 and 29 and very good view as most of the
stall seating seemed to offer."
Stalls, rear section, side blocks:
The side blocks of the rear section are the same price as central seats for
this production except for a small cluster of seats on the "high numbers" side
of rows Q to X. Q to T 43 and 44 seem a fair way of getting cheaper seats (those
on Q with maximum legroom) and worth taking if the ones at the same price in the
front stalls section have gone.
Avoiding the first and last four seats in rows Q to Z on the "low
numbers" side, the rest in this price band seem about fair value. If
seated here, opt for the seats closest to the
central aisle to maximise value for money. Row Q may please the tall of leg but
shorter of cash.
Moving back to the lower prices in the stalls side blocks, aisle
seats in rows ZE and ZF again seem best bet when all seats are the same price
either centre or side blocks.
As in the central block, though, you could alternatively choose seats in the Dress Circle
for
the same price, be closer to the stage (and see more of the top of it), but have less legroom... Your call as it
is based on your own physiology!!
A reader agrees,
"Was a bit worried as could only get seats
ZC1-2 in stalls but needn't of worried - did not feel like I missed anything. Yes, would be nice to be in centre of theatre but if this is all
that's left
did not feel cheated... and loads of leg room! I`m over 6ft and had no problems.
In quieter bit did get a little noise from behind curtains at side where
they keep stock for the bars etc, so staff should be quieter - and cold
blasts as someone else said -
but I had a great view.
Legroom is acceptable throughout the stalls, best in row Q and reader Gem
also feels that in row A there is space to lie down!
A larger reader opines,
"Good leg room and large seats in the stalls."
DRESS CIRCLE
PLEASE NOTE: For copyright reasons, information and
graphics on this
page should not be directly copied and reproduced on other websites / noticeboards. Hyperlinks to this page are, of course, welcomed.
The Dress Circle is split into front, centre and rear sections by aisles across
the fronts of rows G and P.
Dress Circle, front section, central blocks:
The front section is split into two central and two outer blocks by aisles.
In the central block, the prime seats are in rows C to F, numbers 10 to 37.
These offer a good view of the stage, though row B can be affected by people
leaning forward to see over the wall in front of row A.
One report from a group leader notes,
"I did get one complaint about the brass rail on the balcony which is just on
eye level, fortunately there were other seats empty which they moved to and
others in the circle almost had vertigo due to the rake of the seats and they
moved to the stalls."
Reader Barry Liimakka agrees,
"Our seats in Dress Circle (D24/25) were as TM suggests, very good seats -
comfortable and good leg room to boot. However that brass balcony railing which
is located adjacent to the aisles is indeed an annoyance which blocks your view
of the stage. It affects my view of the stage from D24, though not my wife's
view. I suspect that the same is true for rows C, E, and F immediately behind or
opposite my seat. Perhaps others can weigh in."
A couple of rows ahead of that, a reader felt,
"We had
B14 and B15 in the Dress Circle. We were both amazed at how remote we
both felt, despite being only 2 rows back from the front of the circle.
The seats were good, though the person in front of me kept moving
leaning forward when any action took place at the front of the stage and
this blocked my view."
Another reader says,
"We sat in the Circle row D 10 and 11 and they were well worth full price, we
were bang level with the (enormous) time dragon (who sparked lots of oohs from the audience whenever in motion) and when Elpheba
flew in Defying Gravity we had a fantastic overall view of the whole scene one
suspects you would not get in the stalls. Only problems is the sound could go up
a notch especially the orchestra I wanted to be blasted out my seat by that
overture and I was not, it sounded like they were hidden behind a screen
somewhere, but again early previews yet!
Seats at the very back in the Circle I personally would avoid they were miles
high and I looked at them thankful I was not swayed by the cheap offer and had
paid the money."
Theatremonkey regular contributor Jazz says,
"Sat in the the front of
the Dress Circle. It definitely was a great view to take in all the effects
of "Defying Gravity" and a good place to appreciate the staging and
choreography."
The monkey has had varying reports about the sound here, and in the stalls,
and would welcome further comment.
Reader Michael notes,
"I sat in row E of the Dress Circle at a preview performance of Wicked, and
whilst the view was very good indeed, the sound was very very poor. The
orchestra sounded as if they were in another building and the cast could have
been singing in French for all we could tell. the dialogue was not much better -
you really had to strain to hear what was being said and a lady sitting next to
me summed it up when she said that "This is billed as the untold story of the
witches of Oz - I have sat through three hours and am no wiser as I can not hear
anything". It was a preview but they HAVE to sort this problem out - at £55 a
ticket it is not on. I do gather that the sound is better in the stalls but I
can not confirm this."
Another row E reader says in September 2007:
"Row E 21 to 25 in the Dress Circle... we had a good view, seating was well
raked and all the stage was visible. Legroom was a little tight but nothing out
of the ordinary."
Reader Morvey says, further back, also during previews,
"We were right in the middle of Row G in the Dress Circle and the sound was
truly dreadful - the only thing we could hear clearly was the percussion track
which was very annoying at times and, of course, Miriam Margolyes who has the
best speaking voice in England."
Another reader reported that the female cast sounded quiet in row J too, but
that others around him didn't appear to share the problem. Another felt the
sound in row F in November 2006 was poor.
A later report, some weeks after the show opened says,
"I went to see it last night (14th October 2006), sitting in Row E of the Dress.
I was a
little concerned before by the reports on this site about the sound. I
feel they must have sorted it because I felt it was perfectly balanced
between vocals and orchestra, at an appropriate volume - Idina
Menzel's magnificent voice given just the right "knee-trembling"
factor! Also, the spaciality of the sound was right. So, I breathed a
sigh of relief."
Another reader feels the issue has been solved as the run continues:
"We were in the Circle,
Row E 31 to 33 - the sound was quiet, but I had no
problems hearing any of the show. having been to some shows where the balance of
music / vocals have sometimes been disproportionate, I was pleased that the
balance seems right here. Re. the seats - legroom is a bit tight, but the view
was fine."
"Good news!" thinks the monkey, who couldn't be happier to hear this...
Dress Circle, front section, side blocks:
In the side blocks of the front section, all seats offer fair value (again
the problem in row B applies), though the
ends of rows are rather far over to the edge
of the theatre.
One reader comments from B 45 and 46,
"Our seats were pretty good although we couldn't see all the action on the left
hand side of the stage, especially the part where the house lands on the Wicked
Witch of the East.
Luckily a girl was sitting in front of me so I didn't have to lean to the sides
to see the action."
The height of the circle compensates for much of this however, making the
seats worth considering if legroom is not a factor for you.
Bars are an issue at the far ends of these blocks. One reader says,
"Was supposed to sit with a friend in B 8 and 9 of the dress circle - to all the
readers, try and avoid B9 of the dress circle as much as you can, as there's a
pole right in front of your line of vision! Luckily the seats in the centre of B
of the dress circle weren't filled, so we moved and 2 friends who had bought
tickets for other seats moved down to sit with us, B in the centre of the dress
circle are great seats, I could see everything, facial expressions quite a bit
too!"
Another reader agrees from a row behind,
"We sat in Row C8 and 9 in the Dress, and I wish I had seen your red marked
chart area before I paid full price for these (£55). The safety bar on the front
of the circle aisle is sufficiently high that neither my husband nor I could see
the middle of the front of the stage without scrunching our heads down into our
shoulders. It is only when you have to do this that you realise just how much
action takes place there. The people one row in front had to do this too. In the
row in front of them, you could just look through it like a frame. On the plus
side, the aisle seat had no seat in front so the legroom was infinite, and the
other seat had good leg room. The also sound wasn’t very well balanced that
night (13th October 2006), I have to say. It was still good though!"
Reader Lynda comments from a row behind that,
"Sat in the Circle Row D 5 and 6. Good seats, but could not see all of the front
of the stage without leaning forward."
Reader Lee Wilson reports from the other side block,
"Circle Row D... the sound was adequate it was certainly not stunning. It was
much louder and clearer in the cheap seats (row W). On 18th September 2006 there
was a more "muddy" sound with lyrics sometimes hard to understand. Individual
voices were mostly okay but as soon as more than one person sang it was hard to
follow lyrics. Whilst it is great to have a much closer view of the stage people
should be aware that at the side block (we sat in D38 and D39) there is a quite
high horizontal bar on the front of the Circle that I found slightly irritating
because I found myself having to look under it to see the actors when they were
on the very front sections of the stage that jut out.
I would say for the few seats that are affected by the bar it should be red,
if only because I would not choose them again at full price. If anything in the
centre block was available I would go for that or even anything a couple of rows
back at the side where the height of the seat would mean we would not notice the
bar as much. Again I would say it is a minor quibble but for full price you can
get better seats"
At £60, the monkey isn't keen on the seats
behind the rail, nor the extreme edges (first and last two seats in rows back to
D) either. The extra money should ensure a really full view, in its opinion.
Note that a cluster of 4 seats at the far (high numbers) end
of rows A to D have been re-priced to account for the restricted view. The
monkey really liked B and C 43 and 44 under this new regime, and thought the
other two seats fairly priced too - but would go for the ones further in first!
Row E in the side block has platforms at the ends for wheelchair users. See notes.
Not at all bad, feels the monkey, and a chair user confirms it!
Dress Circle, central section, central blocks:
The centre section of seating is split into three blocks - a central one and two
outer ones. Two tiny blocks of fourteen seats are also to be found at the very
corners of the theatre.
Row G has sightline and legroom restricted by ironwork in front, row H may
also suffer for some people.
One reader feels,
"The view was still excellent from row G circle though, and I didn't find the
bar in front of the seats restricted the view. I would agree with previous
reviews about the sound - when I saw it in the circle I could barely make out
half the words of the songs. The theatre needs to sort this out - that's why you
have preview performances. The sound quality was MUCH better in the stalls. It's
not fair to penalise people who can't afford top price tickets such that they
get bad sound quality."
Another reader agrees, saying that in row G,
"The mix where I was sitting was absolutely dreadful; I could hear bass
and nothing else."
Reader James says,
"Circle J32 and J33 – got seats at a £15 promotional rate and for that the view
was fair, but at the regular £45 price… absolutely outrageous!! You feel so far
back and the sound was all over the place."
The central block back to row M is top price. Monkey advice is to make L and
M last choice if there are central stalls back to T available. After that, take
circle centre block J, K, L, H, M over side stalls for view if not comfort. It
still feels the seats are getting darn overpriced, though, and would point out
that sitting a single row behind in the circle row N is £10 cheaper.
Dress Circle, central section, side blocks adjacent to central blocks:
In these blocks, rows K to O are prime. There are stairwells in these
blocks (see below), so choose the centre block first for the same money if
possible where seats are at top price.
Row J seats 14 to 17 and 36 to 39 are behind a stairwell wall. This restricts
legroom and will annoy anyone under 5 foot 9 tall. Rows G to J seats 13 and 40 are affected slightly by the walls too, and should not be considered unless only
far side block seats are available.
The side blocks have undergone a massive price increase since the show opened.
H18, 19, 34 and 35 are well liked by monkey readers and are £10 cheaper
than seats a metre over the aisle.
Reader Emma comments,
"I think we had fantastic and great value seats, Circle, Row H 18 and 19. These
are two seats on their own, right in the middle, not too far back and priced
only £35. The same would be true for Row G and Row I. Pass the message on."
From the "mirror image" of these seats, on the other side of the centre block
in this section, reader Francesca says,
"We had seats H34 and 35 in the Dress Circle. I took my 10-year-old daughter and
she thought they were the best seats we’d ever had! Unobstructed view and it was
nice not sitting next to anybody! We usually pay top price so I was apprehensive
but I would recommend these to anybody."
A reader says,
"Sat in circle row K, excellent seats, good view of everything, don't pay the
extra for the front of the Circle."
Another reader comments,
"Paid £15 ( now £25, editor) for seat 37 row L of the circle and OMG what amazing seats. Could
see the whole stage and take in the amazing sets and costumes from there...
On a small side note, leg room is insufficient for taller people (I'm 5
foot 11)."
Reader Paul Nicholls echoes the views in this area,
"Sat in seats 18 and 19 Row M Dress Circle. Seats only £15 each (now £25,
editor)
and EXCELLENT value for money. We had a clear view of the massive stage and set.
I can't see any reason to pay top prices if you can get seats in this section of
the circle. I did have a walk up to the rear of the circle to see what the £5
(now £15) seats were like. A bit too high up for me but great at that
price."
Another reader comments,
"I saw the show from row M36 in the Circle and have to say, that it
is a decent seat for £25 (I guess it cost that much in January 2007 - now £60, Editor) but it is not worth any more in my opinion.
I had a hard time getting my legs in a decent place (I'm 6ft 2" tall), had luck that no-one was
sitting next
to me then. I'd always go for front row day-seats now for comfort."
Dress Circle, central section, outermost side blocks:
Of the tiny side blocks, rows M to O are far more expensive - take N or
O (as a reader recommends below) first if you must, but try for the same
priced front section stalls before taking these if possible.
Those in L have to lean forward to see over the wall. If you have to
see the show and accept being at the very extreme edge of the theatre,
sit here, but for the same money, try to be in the more central blocks.
These seats are currently at bottom price, and the monkey feels the ones
noted by readers are worth a look.
Reader Dawn reports for "Wicked:"
"O 49 to 52:
First thing to note is that the numbers on the seats are actually 48
to 51 - there is technically no seat 52!!!!! When you actually ask for
assistance in this matter they tell you to go by the number on the
step (which says 49) and although they are numbered 48 to 51 they are
tickets 49 to 52 !!! Worth being aware of as otherwise you might find
two people sat in the middle of your seats!!!
49 and 50 are the better view of the two, as the other two might be subject
to people leaning forward in row L because of the bar which has a
knock on effect on the other far end of row. Just depends how selfish
the people in front are. Man in front of us just told them!! Although
a theatre chap did bring some people here little cushions - rather
nice! But for £15 per ticket all were fab value and well worth it."
The numbers have now been corrected, and reader SJ comments on the same seats,
"We sat in Row O in the Dress Circle, seats 51 and 52 (see Dawn's comments above
for explanation - ed!). For £25 they are excellent value. We even had a space
next to us for all out shopping."
Sadly, at £40 they are less desirable, notes the monkey.
Dress Circle, rear section, central block:
The rear section of seating consists of five
blocks, divided by aisles.
A safety bar in front of row P intrudes into the view, as do safety bars at
the ends of rows on the aisles, and you are a long way back. take row Q first to
avoid this, but do remember that here you get what
you pay for, so rule it out if you want more than to just "be at the show"!
New pricing puts the central block rows R to S up to
£30, rows P and Q hit £40 in front of that. The monkey notes you can have row T, one row behind for
much less and get
the same view. Personally, it isn't keen on the higher priced tickets and would
also explore seats across the aisle from rows P to S in the central block for
less.
It would still explore row S beside the centre block
first, or R 16 to 20 and 21 to 35 if the stairwell rail isn't a bother (skip if
shorter / dislike leaning forwards / being told not to lean forward by those
behind). The £40 for rows P and Q seems very high, and the monkey would try for
the front stalls at the same price first, followed by N and O in the extreme
sides of the Dress Circle. The extreme side blocks at £20 seems high, and the
monkey would skip 1 to 3 and 48 to 50 if possible.
Seats further back have a very distant view of the stage. Those seated here
still get about average value for money (except at previews when it was good!) -
and a history lesson in how 1930's "Super Cinemas" were constructed to allow
maximum audience seating at the expense of view for the poorest!
A reader comments,
"Row P of Dress Circle seat 25 and surrounding
seats.
The safety bar you mention as being an obstruction isn't the one right in
front of you, but the one forward to stop people falling down the rest of
the dress circle. Now, it isn't high at all, but at a few points during the
show we had to lean forward slightly to see the stage. If my sister didn't
have a booster seat here she might not have seen very well at all. Apart
from those few moments in the show, they were great seats, especially at
just £15 each."
Another reader reports from row P,
"The preview (September 2006) £5 priced seats were okay but not sure I would
want to sit there again though. The front of the stage is a bit obscured by
peoples' heads and, in fact, some of the action too as the stage extends a bit
and they use it quite often; but great for £5 - but in the main run £15 don't
think they are really worth it as with Wicked (and Idina especially) you just
have to see her facial expressions to really enjoy her awesome performance."
Reader Paul Nicholls says,
"I did have a walk up to the rear of the circle to see what the £5 (in previews,
now £15 - editor)
seats were like. A bit too high up for me but great at that price."
Another reader adds in August 2007,
"We had £20 seats in the circle and quite a good view, but found latecomers,
toilet visitors and general movement throughout the performance to be rather
irritating."
Reader Dawn, of the mis-numbered seats, reports of later experiences:
"I have now seen the show four times and have sat in a variety of
seats.
After 0 in the dress circle I have had row P centre in the dress
circle, row W dress circle and row D in the stalls.
I have to say that from all of these seats I got something different
from the show - but all were great. Row W of the dress circle -
booked last minute - cheap - great overall view - took my cheap
Argos binoculars for a closer view - but others in my party were
still blown away by the show from here.
- only problem I have found with any of the dress circle seats - is
the leaning forward person - if you have someone that does that - it
is a real pain - but a polite word often does the trick."
She also rated stalls D highly for those who had seen the show before and
wanted close up detail (see stalls comments), and didn't notice any sound
problem in the dress circle in any seat.
Monkey regular Liam reports,
"I had £5 (preview priced, now £15 - editor) Wicked seats in the middle of row Q on Friday night
(8th September 2006) - and what an absolute bargain! The view was a little
distant but incredible - totally clear view of the stage and you can really take
in the enormity of the show."
Reader Jan comments,
"We sat in Dress Circle row S, seats 27 to 30. The theatre is set out in such a
way that you could probably see the stage to a decent degree no matter where you
sat if you are of average height, but being only 5' tall, I have trouble seeing
anything wherever I go. Although the rear circle has a good rake, we had a tall
man in front of us and we had to swap seats around so that the tallest member of
our party sat behind him. But even he had problems and had to constantly lean to
one side to get a proper view. Then of course there were safety bars right at
the front of the circle, so the four rows in front of us all in turn had to lean
forward, until we were all leaning forward to see over someone's shoulder! I had
a neck ache for days after."
The monkey would say that the theatre has booster cushions available, which
can help in this situation.
Another reader reports,
"We were seated in the Circle in Row T, seats 21 and 22, which had cost the
princely sum of £5 each. Legroom was very good (my friend is 5’ 8”) and the view
was fantastic – central, clear and so well-raked that even with a couple of
tallish people in front there was no problem at all. Very comfortable, although
walking up and (particularly) down the fairly steep steps can be a bit
heart-in-mouth, especially when being pushed by a crowd, as there is no handrail
and the seatbacks are too low to grab if you stumble. Might be sensible to allow
a few extra minutes if you’re at all concerned about mobility and have a Circle
seat."
Dress Circle, rear section, side blocks:
A reader (seated in the front circle) notes,
"Seats at the very back in the Circle I personally would avoid they were miles
high and I looked at them thankful I was not swayed by the cheap offer and had
paid the money."
The blocks beside the central ones have stairwells let into them. As a reader
says,
"R19 and 20 in the Circle are over the stairwell, and if you are sitting there
you need to lean forward the whole time, thus blocking everyones' view behind
you"
If sat here, please consider this, says the monkey...
Reader Mandi comments of row Q,
"We had seats in Q35 and 36 of the dress circle. Although we were a long way
back, it was nice to get the overall impression of the staging effects which
were quite spectacular. We had no problems with sound at all. As to be expected
from sitting so far back, we missed all the nuances of expression etc from the
performers but as we managed to get them for only £5 (preview priced, now £15 -
editor) each seat,
we certainly couldn't complain!"
In row S, reader James says,
"Sat in S5 - you were a long way from the
stage, but as the show is so "big" it really didn't
matter or detract from my enjoyment at all. Sound
fine here too."
Further back, reader Susan Richards says,
"Dress Circle row W, 34 and 35. Saw the info on your site and got these preview
tickets for £5 each. You rate them "green", I certainly agree.
Although, they are high above the stage and a bit distant, for this price (and
£15 after previews), they are wonderful value. There are glasses, 50p if need
be, but as most of the play is action on a grand scale, this distance is not a
problem. Leg room is ok if you are 5 foot 6 or less. If you need to see every
wrinkle and spot on the actor's faces, pay £60."
Reader Lee Wilson notes,
"Back of the circle Row W... the sound back there was fantastic. We could hear
every word clearly even from the ensemble and the songs really belted out to us.
They seem to have additional speakers behind the audience there too (very
noticeable during the "Wizard head" talking for example)."
Reader Karen Wheeler says,
"Had row W 17 to 20 in Dress Circle, was a bit worried we would not see much but
good view, a bit steep going up, and I don't like heights but coped! 19 and 20
were the better of the 4 seats as with the other 2 it was the problem of people
leaning forward in rows in front of you."
Readers Karen and Peter say,
"Back of the dress circle is great value for money at £15 but we recommend the
middle blocks for optimum viewing."
Sad that the price is a little higher now though, notes the monkey.
Legroom is tight in all Dress Circle seats for the tallest, worst in row A, best in aisle seats, where at
least one leg gets a little stretching space! Reader Natalie agrees,
"I would recommend
our seats. S44 and S45. The aisle seats have loads of legroom, although the
seats are very narrow for the ample of bottom!"
A larger reader opines,
"Less good seats and legroom within the circle area than the stalls..
but still acceptable."
Notes
PLEASE NOTE: For copyright reasons, information and
graphics on this
page should not be directly copied and reproduced on other websites / noticeboards. Hyperlinks to this page are, of course, welcomed.
Seats 2313 plus 50 standing.
Air-cooled theatre. Not as effective as proper air conditioning, so be
prepared for a hot and uncomfortable time in the height of summer, alas. To
minimise the effects, seating in the front stalls is normally coolest as heat
rises - and is also trapped in Circle overhang. Just a bit of advice from
someone in the theatre industry who has a grasp of physics... One reader does
report icy blasts in the circle in October, though, so sometimes it works...
Wheelchair access is to the Dress Circle via chair lifts from pavement to
foyer and foyer to Dress Circle level. The lifts are at the Vauxhall Bridge Road
entrance, not the Wilton Road one that faces the station. Row E has platforms fitted in both
side blocks and a chair user assesses the view as good.
A wheelchair accessible toilet is also available on the ground floor. Signed and audio described performances are planned, guide dogs
are welcome either inside or can be dog sat. There is no hearing loop at the
moment. www.theatre-access.co.uk
or Artsline on 020 7388 2227 or e-mail artsline@dircon.co.uk
No food except Ice cream and confectionery.
Three bars, 1 foyer, 2 Dress Circle. Reader Barfly notes, though:
"The foyer bar is very small and gets very full close to show time. The two
Dress Circle bars should be
sued under the trade descriptions act, Barfly is not happy!"
Six toilets. Stalls 1 Gents 3 cubicles, 1 ladies 11 cubicles; Dress Circle
foyer 1 gents 1 cubicle, 1 ladies 6 cubicles; Dress Circle 1 gents 2 cubicles, 1
ladies 2 cubicles
A reader reports,
"Toilet facilities (certainly for women) totally inadequate; the interval queue
snaked down from upper level to the ground floor..."
This is echoed by many other readers too...
Karen Wheeler adds,
"ladies toilets a nightmare, tried to go in interval and queue right down the
stairwell, but isn't that always the way...the men's were fine."
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