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Performance Times Ticket Prices Where to Buy Tickets  Seating Plan Seat Opinions Getting Here

DONMAR WAREHOUSE THEATRE


SMALL CHANGE (play)
Ends 31st May 2008
Audio described performance 10th May 2008 at 2.30pm (touch tour 1.30pm)
Captioned performance 15th May 2008 at 7.30pm
Signed performance 19th May 2008 at 7.30pm

East Cardiff in the 1950's. The relationship between two small boys and their mothers is explored by Peter Gill as he directs his own play, revived in London for the first time in over 25 years.


 
Theatremonkey Opinion:
Spare in every department save writing, this is an example of how an actor's voice can be enough to carry an evening. The interaction between two mothers and their sons is minutely examined in what feels like a stream of monologue confessions. It is far more that that, though. By listening closely enough, we are allowed to feel the innermost emotions of two boys as they travel through their lives; and the mothers who sustain against the odds, and may ultimately stifle.

Certainly a play the audience need to be in receptive mood for. There is little to do but concentrate on the performances, but those are rewarding enough. A piece worth seeing as a little theatrical history as well as compelling character study.

 

Your Reviews: Add your own by clicking here.
Important: Some reviews below can contain "spoilers" - please don't read if this bothers you!

 

Top Performance Times Ticket Prices Where to Buy Tickets  Seating Plan Seat Opinions Getting Here

Performance Schedule:
The monkey advises checking performance times on your tickets and that performances are happening as scheduled, before travelling.

Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm
Thursday and Saturday at 2.30pm and 7.30pm

Runs 2 hours approximately.

 

Ticket Prices:
View this information in diagram form

Monday Evenings and Thursday Afternoons
Stalls £20
Dress Circle £15

Tuesday to Thursday Evenings and Saturday Afternoons
Stalls
Centre block £26
Side blocks £22

Dress Circle
Centre Block £22
Side block row A £18
Side block rows B and C £15

Friday and Saturday Evenings
Stalls
Centre block £29
Side blocks £24

Dress Circle
Centre Block £24
Side block row A £20
Side block rows B and C £15

 

Previews (prior to opening night)
Stalls
Centre block £24
Side blocks £20

Dress Circle
Centre Block £20
Side block row A £16
Side block rows B and C £13

When a production is SOLD OUT at the theatre box office, the Donmar Warehouse do hold 10 DAY SEATS for each performance, on sale daily from 10.30am, in person, from the Box Office (maximum 2 tickets per person) at £15 each. Once these are sold out, 20 STANDING PLACES in the rear circle are available at £7.50 each.  Both standing and seats are normally only sold only to personal callers at the theatre box office, maximum two tickets per person. Occasionally if there is no demand, they may sell to telephone callers later in the day - but that is generally unlikely and visiting the theatre is far safer feels the monkey.

 

Top Performance Times Ticket Prices Where to Buy Tickets  Seating Plan Seat Opinions Getting Here


Buying Tickets Through the Venue:

More Ticket Buying Options

Tickets offered differ between outlets. Outlets also may offer different seats via their phone and online systems.
Theatre Box Office:
Telephone: 0870 060 6624
( 020 8544 7424 if you cannot use the 0870 number)
Operated by the Ambassador Theatre group's own phoneroom from 9am until 10pm (Sundays 10am until 8pm). Outside these hours the Ticketmaster agency answer calls on their behalf.

Online: www.donmarwarehouse.com or Ambassador Theatre Group, the theatre group's own website provide the service for this theatre from both sites.
This system allows you to select your seat from all those available on an online seating plan.
 

Booking fees per transaction for telephone and online bookings:
No fee for telephone bookings. A £2.50 per transaction (not per ticket) fee is made for online ones, though.

For personal callers or by post: Earlham Street, London. WC2H 9LD
No booking fee for personal callers.

When a production is SOLD OUT at the theatre box office, the Donmar Warehouse do hold 10 DAY SEATS for each performance, on sale daily from 10.30am, in person, from the Box Office (maximum 2 tickets per person) at £15 each. Once these are sold out, 20 STANDING PLACES in the rear circle are available at £7.50 each.  Both standing and seats are normally only sold only to personal callers at the theatre box office, maximum two tickets per person. Occasionally if there is no demand, they may sell to telephone callers later in the day - but that is generally unlikely and visiting the theatre is far safer feels the monkey.

 

 

Special Access Needs Customers:
Wheelchair users and other registered disabled theatregoers can book their seats on 0870 060 6624 or 020 8544 7424 and enquire about concessionary prices that may be available to them. The wheelchair users line connects directly to the theatre chain central phoneroom in London during working hours. Ask to be transferred to the theatre if they answer. See Notes.

Signed / Captioned / Audio described performance bookings must be made by either post to the box office address above, by telephone to 020 7845 5813 or email to access@donmarwarehouse.com. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PARTICULAR TELEPHONE NUMBER AND EMAIL ADDRESS ARE ONLY FOR ASSISTED PERFORMANCE USERS, AND ARE NOT TO BE USED FOR GENERAL PUBLIC BOOKINGS.

 www.donmarwarehouse.com is the official theatre website.

 

More Ticket Buying Options: Using S.T.A.R. genuine ticket agencies.
Tickets offered differ between outlets. Outlets also may offer different seats via their phone and online systems.

Independent S.T.A.R. ticket agencies may also offer an alternative choice of seats.
 

 
 
Top Performance Times Ticket Prices Where to Buy Tickets  Seating Plan Seat Opinions Getting Here

Theatre Seat Opinions:
Please remember that cheaper seats often do not offer the same view / location quality as top price ones, and that ticket prices are designed to reflect this difference.

Seating Plan Diagram

Stalls Dress Circle Notes
STALLS 
The Circle overhangs the stalls but does not affect the view from any seat.

The stalls comprise four rows of benches surrounding a large square stage on three sides.

The seats are raked and so close to the stage that the atmosphere created is incredibly intimate. Every seat has a good view of the stage.

Prices are now differentiated only according whether you are in a front or side block - and at previews both blocks are the same price! Those seated in a side block nearest the back of the playing area will see a rear view of the actors most of the time, so the monkey advises selecting seats as close to the "centre block" end as possible, as you will pay the same wherever you sit in the block. 

Reader Vicki says,
"I sat in B41 in the stalls where there was ample leg-room and the padded bench was surprisingly comfortable." 

Another reader comments,
"We had side stall seats A 37 and 38, and a great view of the actor in the last scene only about 6ft away. If I could only get the side stall seats again I would go a few more rows back, so it would be a bit more eye level to the actors, rather than getting a view of them just above the knee when they are close."
 

Instead of seats down the sides in the stalls, consider taking row B in the side circle instead. The aerial perspective compensates better for the side view in the monkey's opinion.

Since the seats are benches, only a number stuck on the edge of the bench designates your bit of seat. Arrive a half-hour before the performance to stake your portion out. The benches are fairly short and this eliminates the need to publicly admit your broadness of beam by asking fellow members to move up and make room. Theatremonkey finds in any case even if you do have to ask, you will be ignored or at best find only someone five seats away will move a millimetre - no real help. Alas appealing to the ushers is your only recourse in this situation.

Reader KJ Hailes provides the illustrative detail,
"The theatre stresses me out because it's all bench seating.

I tend to adopt the attitude that everyone will muck in and shuffle along until we all find a happy medium and we're all comfortable but it doesn't work like that in these theatres. All of a sudden people become selfish. They desperately cling on to their piece of the bench until their fingertips bleed.

The ironic thing is, I arrived first and worked out which part of the bench was mine and claimed it. But when everyone else arrived - we all kinda squeezed up - and I lost ground. Then I looked around and it seemed like everyone else was sitting comfortably with their legs stretched out and their arms by their side and I was the only one like a sardine in a tin. Grrrrrrrrr."

Wheelchairs can replace Stalls seat D31, a fair view and value in Theatremonkey's opinion, better than the space in the Dress Circle. See notes.

Legroom is cramped throughout the stalls, best in row B (centre block) A (side block) and seats B 8, 13, 29, 41 C 9, 11, 30 and D 10.

 

DRESS CIRCLE 
called the CIRCLE in this theatre.

A thick bar runs around the front of this circle, which like the stalls, surrounds the stage on three sides. This bar is treble height at the corners affecting the view  from row A seats 12,14,33 and 35. A further bar runs across row B, but does not affect the view significantly. 

Seats in rows A and B are benches, and the same rules on arriving early apply. The rake is good, and this monkey prefers row B to row A as the bar on the front of the circle is less annoying. 

A reader says,
"We had seats B23 and B24 in the circle, plenty of leg room, the back rest was too upright for me, we was last to be seated and the people on each side had left enough room. A good view of the stage, apart from the front end was blocked by the bar that you mention. but, there was not much happening there, so it did not spoil the play I saw. I would recommend the Domar to anybody that would like to see their favourite actor close up. A very nice intimate theatre!"  

Centre block is best in the circle. Take stalls  Row A centre block first though, followed by circle centre block, then circle sides or Stalls rows B to D (if legroom is not an issue), and then stalls sides. Circle side block row B is now very good value at bottom price, feels the monkey.

A wheelchair can also be given space in the Dress Circle, but the view is not good, so choose stalls C31 instead. See notes.

Row C is located on the sides of the circle behind rows A and B. It is a bench, but some sadist has screwed it half way up a wall and put a wall in front of the row to lean on. Gymnastics are involved to get onto and stay on the bench, and the row is so narrow that you get to know fellow members of the audience very well while clambering to your seat.  At the same price as row B in front of it...well, any sane monkey knows which to choose first if possible!

Amusingly, the bench is half a person space too short, so hope for slim companions. Reader Alison Classe says:
"Incidentally, grateful thanks to the Monkey for his ever-reliable seating advice. After reading here that the bench on which I'd booked five seats was half a seat short, I was able to get an extra place at the last minute. Otherwise we'd have had to form a human pyramid, which would have been even more distracting."

Notwithstanding these comments the view is very good and offers exceptional value for money. Theatremonkey notes, however that some esteemed members of the silverhaired community do sometimes have real problems sitting here.

Brian McKinney, former publisher of Goodshow, the now sadly closed American Theatre Ticket Agency notes, "I've been uncomfortable in B, and bothered by the bar you mention in A, but C is the absolute worst." Following a return visit, he reflects, "Note to self: Never accept another balcony seat at the Donmar. Whoever designed those seats, which all pitch slightly forward, was not on speaking terms with whoever planned the human body".

Legroom is adequate throughout the circle, best in row B and, because of the fun design, row C, where six-foot persons could comfortably stand if they wished.



Notes

Total 252 seats. Some standing places also sold at box office discretion.

Air-cooled auditorium. 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 overhangs. Just a bit of advice from someone in the theatre industry who has a grasp of physics...

Induction loop system. Signed performances regularly, occasional audio described performances. Guide dogs welcome in auditorium or dog sitter available. Wheelchairs have  level access is through the shopping mall, near a store called Quicksilver. The mall closes at 6.30 p.m. Users should pick a matinee or pre arrange the access to be opened if they want to leave after the evening show. Failing that, a ramp offers access to the narrow foyer corridor, with a lift to all levels. The adapted toilet is in the circle when the most used adapted seat / wheelchair space is in the stalls! www.artslineonline.com has comprehensive details.

No food except confectionery and Ice Cream.

Two bars, Stalls and Circle.

Five toilets. Stalls 1 gents 1 cubicle, 1 ladies 2 cubicles; Circle 1 gents 1 cubicle, 1 ladies 2 cubicles, 1 disabled unisex.

 

Top Performance Times Ticket Prices Where to Buy Tickets  Seating Plan Seat Opinions Getting Here

Getting to this Theatre
Find this theatre on a Street Map
Nearest Underground Station Buses Car Park
Nearest Underground Station:
Covent Garden - Piccadilly (dark blue) line.

Plan your tube journey to this station using the button below:
 

Leave the underground station and turn to the left. Walk straight on to a road called Long Acre. This is what you should see in front of you - Neal Street, the road you will want is to the right:
If instead of a road you see a pedestrianised area, Wrong way, turn around. 

Cross Long Acre to the other side of the road from the underground station. Turn to your right. Keep walking, the first turning on your left is Neal Street - as the picture above indicates. Take it. If instead you come to Langley Street first, wrong way.


The view up Neal Street.

At the end of Neal Street is a three-way road junction:

Look and turn to your left. The middle road is Earlham Street:
 

Cross into it and the theatre is a tiny shop doorway on the far side of the road, with a neon name sign above, set into a trendy pale brick shopping mall:

If you enter a pedestrian zone, or Shelton Street, wrong way.
_____________________

An alternate (some feel easier and safer) route from Leicester Square Underground Station is illustrated here - and the tube journey to the station can be planned using the banner below:

 

 

Buses:
None stop outside the theatre. Number 14, 19, 24, 29, 38 and 176 stop on Charing Cross Road or Shaftesbury Avenue. As a starting point, stand in front of the Palace Theatre - home of Les Misérables. Turn your back to it. Cross the road ahead of you to put yourself in front of the large Pizza Hut restaurant. Turn to your left and walk past the restaurant to Shaftesbury Avenue. This is the only road to have traffic divided by heavy railings in the centre of the road. Got it, good. Turn right into Shaftesbury Avenue, Cross over West Street, then notice the next road, Earlham Street, right next to it. Walk down Earlham Street, passing the Mountbatten Hotel. At the top of the street is an open space with a column monument in the centre of it. The Cambridge Theatre is behind this. Careful - in the absence of kerbstones cars and pedestrians mix on the cobbles of this junction. Cross the road to the Cambridge Theatre and take the road to the left of it, Earlham Street. Walk along the side of the theatre and pass entrances to a shopping mall. The Donmar is beyond the mall, a tiny neon signed doorway.

 

Car Park:
Newport Place, China Town. On leaving, use Gerard Street to get you onto Shaftesbury Avenue. On Shaftesbury Avenue look to your right. The brown brick building to your right is the Palace Theatre. Don't bother crossing the road, but turn to your right on Shaftesbury Avenue and walk in the direction of it. When you come to the main road intersection in front of Shaftesbury Avenue, cross Charing Cross Road at the traffic lights. Go straight on, entering the other half of Shaftesbury Avenue for a few moments. continue up it, crossing West Street. Just past that is Earlham Street. Turn into it and walk to the end, crossing Tower Street. Ahead of you is an open space (Seven Dials) with a pillar in the centre of it. The Cambridge Theatre is clearly visible behind that.

Careful - in the absence of kerbstones cars and pedestrians mix on the cobbles of this junction. Cross the road to the Cambridge Theatre and take the road to the left of it as you faced it across the square, Earlham Street. Walk along the side of the theatre and pass entrances to a shopping mall. The Donmar is beyond the mall, a tiny neon signed doorway.

The "Theatreland Parking Scheme" is in use here. Call Westminster City Council car parks on 0800 243 348 or see www.westminster.gov.uk/carparks for details. Parking under the "Theatreland Parking Scheme" allows a 50% discount in cost. Spaces CANNOT be reserved at these prices, so choose whether you would prefer to book and pay more, or use this scheme.

If you choose the "Theatreland Parking Scheme", you must get your car park ticket validated at the theatre's box office counter (the theatre attendant will insert the car parking ticket into a small machine which updates the information held on the magnetic strip on the reverse, thus enabling the discount). When you pay using the machines at the car park, 50% will be deducted from the full tariff. You may park for up to 72 hours using this scheme and it is endorsed by the Society of London Theatre.

For a full list of car parks that participate in the 50% off theatreland scheme here see www.westminster.gov.uk/carparks/theatreland.cfm, and for a full list of theatres that participate in the scheme see www.westminster.gov.uk/carparks/theatres.cfm.


 

Top Performance Times Ticket Prices Where to Buy Tickets  Seating Plan Seat Opinions Getting Here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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