STALLS
The Dress Circle overhangs the stalls at row G. The top of the stage is not
visible from row N back.In the front stalls the first and last three seats in rows C to L should be
avoided as the viewing angle is not acceptable value from a top price seat.
Pillars at the ends of row G affect the view of the seats in rows H to L
directly behind.
Rows A and B provide a fair view, though you should be willing to put up
with neck ache and sometimes a limited view of the rear of the stage. Totally
your call, thinks the monkey. If rows AA and BB are added, accept that
you'll look sharply upward from them - not great at top price, feels the monkey.
For "The Little Dog Laughed" (January 2010) row AA is cheaper - about
fair, feels the monkey, who prefers it to rear stalls or upper circle at
the same price. Row F centre is "premium" priced - your call, feels the
monkey, who knows seats around it are cheaper and have the same view.
For "A Little Night Music" (April 2009) a reader reports a problem,
"We always like to sit front row so booked row BB, appreciating that
sometimes stages can be high. My daughter and I sat down (we are 5ft
1inch tall) and all I will say is that we could not see anything: no
stage, no scenery except the very top where the scenery finished. It was
as if somebody had turned off the light!! My Husband, who is 6ft, could
see the last little bit of the scenery at the top. As it was impossible
to stay there, we went to the box office and they exchanged them after a
slight disagreement - so obviously nobody has told them there is NO view
and that you would only hear the music. Nobody sat in the row. As they
have extended the stage, why has nobody sat there and realized and taken
out row BB? It's the first time we were all actually speechless!!!!"
Luckily, the reader says on a second visit,
"They have completely removed row BB.
Behind it, row A was fine for us (but then we are front
rowers); at one small point when they laid flat on the floor you
couldn't see them, but that didn't bother us. We had a great night and are booking same seats again before
it finishes."
A reader says,
"I booked front row seats for Zorro (closed March 2009), when extra
row AA5 to 8 were available for £37. I was a bit
apprehensive as people have said about the stage being high. The stage
is high and people prone to neck ache, I suppose, will get it. I am only
5ft and I did have to look up, but I loved it - well worth the money. I
would sit here again but will not pay full price. It did not bother
me in the slightest. Sitting in the front row you are on the edge of
your seat. A great experience."
Reader John Lafferty reports,
"My view was unobstructed and there was plenty of leg room for seats BB1
and BB2 in the stalls."
Reader Bas agrees,
"I sat in BB in the stalls (when second row) and the pitch was
fine. You had to look up but were close to the action -
recommended!"
Another reader observed,
"We had seats B2 and 3 in the stalls. The Garrick is an amazingly
intimate theatre and these seats felt truly part of the action. There was a family
seated in row AA, but the children couldn't even see the stage so they
were luckily moved to row BB, which seemed to be OK."
Behind, another says,
"Sat in Stalls row C9-C12 for 'Zorro' (March 2009). I felt a little too close to the
stage as I think you miss some things because you can’t see the entire
stage without turning your head. Also, I had to look up quite a bit as
there’s a high stage. However, I did get the tickets for £30 via TKTS
and at this price they were very fair."
During "Quick Change" artist Arturo Brachetti's November 2009 show,
another reader observes,
"C 15, 16 and 17 were good, but for this show I would recommend sitting
a bit further back because we could sometimes see under his skirt and
see part of the other costumes underneath, which spoils the magic a
bit."
One reader felt seat E8 was excellent.
Another reader cautions,
"I paid more for a better seat in
the Stalls and was glad that I did. A final tip is that the stage is
very high, rows D and forwards are below the action and people with
these tickets have to look up all the time. Row E was excellent."
Another reader agrees,
"E9 to 12: Excellent seats: dead
central and a full view of the stage."
Endorsed by another reader,
"E11: Got student ticket 45 minutes before for £20. E11 is a FAB seat!
If you are gonna be paying full price for a ticket definitely go for
something around this area of the theatre."
while another observes,
"When walking to the Stalls bar which is situated at the rear of the
seating area we happened to look back at the stage and realised exactly
what other readers have commented on regarding the rear most rows of
seats. You would miss quite a bit of action if it happened on a high
level above the stage. We
were in Row E (6 and 7) and found them to be excellent, perfect distance
from the stage and enough legroom for a large lanky oaf like me."
F 22 and 23 are designated restricted view. If sold at reduced price they
are very much worth consideration, when sold (as usually happens) at top price, avoid. E21
and H 1 and 23 fall into the same category.
In rows G and H, regular Theatremonkey seat commentator James comments for
"Zorro" (July 2008),
"Sat in Stalls G14 to G16. I certainly wouldn’t
want to be any further forward and even G16 was beginning to affect
the viewing angle. It’s definitely a show that you need to be as
central as possible for but if you are on a side it’s probably best
to be in the higher numbers due to where the action takes place on
stage. From H11 and 12: Staggered seats and a good rake meant that the view was
excellent. For this show I’d probably sit a row or two further back
just to see the whole stage without turning from side to side but
that’s just personal preference."
"Arturo Brachetti" (October 2009) sees "premium" priced seats in
the centre of rows G and H. Monkey advice is take seats around them for
the same view at lower cost.
From row L, reader James says,
"Sat in L13 in the stalls, great seat but worth noting that from row J
backwards to row N the seating is bizarrely not staggered - so you will
have someone's head directly in front of yours. Would definitely agree
about needing to see the top of the stage if
using its height."
In row M, another reader opines,
"M9: Seat was very good."
In row Q for "A Little Night Music" (March 2009) a reader reports,
"Q17: Since the actions of this show were mainly at the stage level and
the set was designed accordingly, I am happy to report that the view
from my seat that is considered at the back section of stalls was not
obstructed by the Dress Circle hanging at all."
Pillars occur in the centre of the stalls next to seats N6 and 16, and R 7
and 16. This makes seat 7 in rows O, P, Q, T, U, V, W and X, seat 18 in rows O,
P, Q, T, U, V and X restricted view...worth missing. If you must take a
restricted view seat, consider rows U to X seat 6, or row O seats 1, 23 and 24 -
less view, but slightly improved on the central block pillars.
Row N back sees the stalls divided into three blocks - centre and sides. In
the central block the view is acceptable except in seats behind pillars. For
"The Little Dog Laughed" (January 2010) value is very fair in the centre of row
T (8
to 14) where seats drop a price over those in front. Your choice whether you
prefer the Stalls or cheaper Upper Circle. The monkey goes for the
rear stalls for comfort, Upper Circle slightly for view compared to row W back,
perhaps.
A sound desk is placed at the back of the theatre for musicals - worth skipping V 9 to 18 and
W and X 9 for purists.
One reader also warns that if action is staged high
up, as it was for "Zorro" when she saw it in 2008,
"I thoroughly enjoyed the show... from the knees down! Why? Because the
clever designers have maximised the limited stage space by building
vertically. If, like me, you are in Row V (or in fact any stalls seat
from N back); you will spend happy minutes during the show trying to
work out whose knees belong to which character... and when the rest of the
auditorium gasps, you will just be
sighing with relief when actors make it into view!"
Reader Lorna agrees,
"We sat in row S of the stalls, unfortunately the view is not quite so
good from back here as the dress circle roof cuts off the top of the
stage ,so you miss a bit of the action. I'd say pay a little bit more
and go for row L or forward."
Side block seats Row N 3 to 5, 17 and 18, rows O to S 4 to 6, T to X 3 to 5
are also are acceptable, offering reasonable
value for money (except where restricted view, when you should be pickier), though
central stalls are preferable. Side block seats do not have aisles at the far ends
- claustrophobics
may prefer to sit elsewhere.
Of N19, a reader says when obtained at a discount,
"Just the top corner of the view is cut off by the balcony. This is
often irrelevant for a play, and - with no row in front - the extra leg room
more than made up for this. So though this is a red seat on the monkey
chart, I think I had my money's worth with a heavily reduced ticket."
Further back, from row Q, regular contributor James notes,
"Sat in Stalls Q5 and Q6 for “A Little Night Music” (April 2009). The
view was good but they felt a little far from the stage for top price.
For this show the overhang doesn’t cause a problem, but I can see it
doing so for other shows. Legroom is also not great here."
In row V a reader comments for "Zorro" (July 2008),
"We had tickets in Row V, Seats 3, 4, 5 and 6 and we could only see
about a third of the stage. The overhang blocked all the action taking
place at the top of the stage. The pillar to the side of our seats also blocked our view of the
actors to the left of the stage (audience left).
We were lucky enough to move to better seats in the Dress Circle during
the interval but I was bitterly disappointed in the quality of the seats
in Row V. They are definitely restricted view."
Legroom is fair throughout the stalls, best in row N seats 1 to 5 and 17 to
21, which have an aisle in front of them.
Stalls Boxes
Boxes A is adjacent to the stage. The view is side on but acceptable at
a low price. Seats 2 people.
DRESS CIRCLE
The Upper Circle overhangs this circle completely but is high enough not to
affect the view.
A metal bar runs across the front of this circle. This is slightly annoying
in row A for the shortest, but otherwise does not affect the view from any seat.
Apart from the first and last three seats in each row the view from all seats
in rows B to E is unobstructed and fair value. Choose row B then C, then A or
D depending if closeness to the action or no bar in front is your higher
priority. Row E isn't cheaper, though the overhang feels too low for some.
Reader Rich notes for "Zorro" in December 2008,
"We sat in B6 and 7. Good seats but go central because the front of the
circle cuts off a little of the stage when sitting near the edge."
The first and last two seats in rows B and C are at lower price, designated
restricted view. In all cases a view with boxes intruding to make seeing the
sides of the stage awkward is the cause. Think about boxes over these (and
other end of row seats in the Dress Circle) for the same money or less.
A reader comments for "Zorro" (July 2008),
"I sat in Dress Circle E17 which ordinarily would be a good seat with
plenty of leg room but the Upper Circle overhangs just enough to block
the heads of the actors when they are on the top level of the stage
set."
Wheelchair users (if they can get down a step from a fire exit) can park
at the end of Dress Circle row E. Theatremonkey rates these seats
poor. See notes.
Legroom is tending to uncomfortable in all seats for the taller, worst in row A centre. If taller than five
foot six, try the stalls.
Dress Circle Boxes
Boxes B and C are at Dress Circle level next to D and E, halfway between
the main seating block and the stage. A fair view is offered at a lower
price - expensive at top price, though. Boxes seat 2 people.
UPPER CIRCLE
A disused balcony overhangs this circle but does not obstruct the view from
any seat.
A metal bar runs across the front of the centre aisle. This
particularly affects the view from seats A 10, 11, B 11 and 12, C 13 and 14, D 12 and 13 and
E 11 and 12, annoyingly, as it becomes double height at the aisle.
The first and last few seats in rows A to E are designated restricted view.
In all cases a view with boxes intruding to make seeing the sides of the stage
awkward is the cause. These seats are poor value at £20 or more in the monkey
opinion. At a pinch it might consider C4 and 24 or D 2 and 23 at less than that. Observation rather than recommendation, though.
For the rest, if you decide on the Upper Circle rather than similarly priced
front row or rear
stalls, either take row C first at third price, then D then B (if the bar is to
be avoided - if it isn't a problem, then take B before D) OR even consider
central row E.
Row A is reduced in price in the past to allow for the bar in front - decide if
legroom is important before buying a seat here. The circle is fairly high
up, but the view is clear enough to make the unrestricted view seats average
value for money.
Legroom is uncomfortable in all seats, worst in row A. Centre aisle seats
offer a bit more, if you are prepared to compromise on the
view.
Upper Circle Boxes
J and H are best of these, then G and F. The view is adequate from all
boxes, and pricing about acceptable to slightly high. Boxes seat 2
people.
Notes
Total 650 seats.
Not air-conditioned, so avoid the rear stalls and circles on hot days as heat
gets trapped here.
Infrared system requiring headsets for deaf patrons. Best from row D back in
the stalls. Those deaf and partially sighted get an extra, fun, choice to make
here. Occasional signed performances. Occasional audio described performances
for the blind, guide dog sitter available. Wheelchair users (if they can get
down a step from a fire exit) can park at the end of Dress Circle row E. Adapted toilet is now
available in the form of being able to use the women's toilet if able to leave
chair. Specific information from
www.seetickets.com
or 0844 412 4648 or e-mail customer.relations@seetickets.com. A
"venue access guide" from the team who created book "Theatremonkey,
A Guide to London's West End," is available to download in PDF format
by clicking here.
No food except Ice cream and confectionery.
Three bars, Foyer, Stalls and Upper Circle.
Six toilets in all; Foyer 1 gents 4 cubicles, 1 ladies 4 cubicles; Stalls 2
ladies 3 cubicles, 4 cubicles respectively; Upper Circle 1 gents 1 cubicle, 1
ladies 4 cubicles.
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