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NEW LONDON THEATRE |
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WAR HORSE (play)
Audio-Described performance: 27th July 2013 at 2.30pm (Touch Tour at 12.45pm)
Captioned performance: 20th July 2013 at 2.30pm
Signed performance: 8th June 2013 at 2.30pm
Albert's beloved horse is requisitioned for the army in
World War One. Too young for the trenches, Albert still embarks on a dangerous
mission to find his horse and bring him home. Michael Morpurgo's novel is
adapted by Nick Stafford.
This production, first seen at the National in 2007 and revived in 2008 now
moves to the West End by popular demand.
View video clips about this production.
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Theatremonkey Opinion: |
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Not available. 2007 production reports are that the
depiction of both horse and place are outstanding, the acting strong, but the
script drawn from the novel a little too full of happy narrative-driving
coincidences to be totally credible. Still, this is an ensemble piece that when
working at its peak seems to have been found deeply moving by the professional
reviewers. "Something to interest young people in theatre" seems to be the (in a
non-patronising way) conclusion.
This transfer sits well at the New London, too, with sometimes greater impact in
the smaller space. The horse puppetry remains a highlight, and there is much to
enjoy (and admire) about the story. An evening for contemplation as well as
education.
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Important: Some reviews below can contain "spoilers" - please don't read if this
bothers you!
The latest reviews are below. For earlier ones,
click here.
Some reviews may refer to cast members who
have left the production.
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Saw the show on November 20th 2011. Sat in stalls seats AA17-20.
Amazing seats, must be the best in the theatre for this show. We
were not watching the show "WE ACTUALLY FELT WE WERE IN THE ACTION!!
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War Horse. It was very good mainly from a technical point of view -
let's face it, the story is pretty smultzy and the film will be even
more so I'm sure. Still, we did enjoy the play and the rake of the
seats made you seem right in the thick of it. It's amazing how the
human brain quickly accepts things as real. For instance, the goose
seemed to have real character - I loved it!
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Warhorse – New London Theatre – 12th January 2012
We had 4 seats in Stalls row A, 9 to 12. I would say that most of
the seats in rows A and B are perfect but looking round the
auditorium, every seat seemed to offer great views. The first row,
AA might leave you craning your neck up a bit much especially if
you’re below average height.
Our seats in row A were in the middle section of the stalls and I
think we had among the best seats in the house, it was a totally
immersive and intimate theatre experience. The actors and horses use
the every part of the stage, often coming right up to the very edge
of it so they are within 6 feet of you.
The show itself is stunning, the puppetry is breathtaking, the
minimalist set design was ingenious, the acting is flawless, the
music is beautiful and the story is simple but immensely touching –
everyone concerned is clearly passionate about the show.
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We went to see Warhorse at the New London last weekend, 5th February
2012 – have wanted to see this one for ages.
We sat in the stalls, row B seats 17 to 19. This is actually the
third row but pretty central. With the rake and the proximity of the
stage you are pretty much in the production. Sit further back if you
want to see the bigger picture, but if you want to get up close and
personal with the horses then these seats are fantastic!
Legroom – not too bad but there wasn’t much option for me other than
to sit up straight and get wedged in. Cue a bit of grumbling from
behind but the way the seats are arranged I don’t think it could
have been as bad as in other theatres. I was with my mother on this
occasion, being significantly smaller than I am she thought the
seats were amazing – comfortable and a stunning view.
Funnily enough, I agree totally with the opinions expressed on the
website – as a play there are too many plot holes and coincidences
to be truly affecting, although the performances are very good.
However, the horses and the puppetry are magnificent – you totally
forget that there are actors beneath the shell and the overall
production is imaginative and innovative enough to make it a
thoroughly absorbing evening. I personally enjoyed the first act
more as I thought the building of the relationship between Joey and
Albert was beautifully done. I would highly recommend this play as
the experience is greater than the sum of its parts.
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Our party were sat in the Stalls, seats J24 and J25 which offered an
absolutely superb view of the whole stage. Yes, you do have to pay a
premium for seats such as these but it's money well spent for a
great view of a magical and moving production.
I've seen War Horse before but felt the urge to make a return visit,
sometimes it can be a mistake to re-visit a play you've enjoyed so
much previously as another visit may not live up to it but no such
worries here as it was still as amazing as the first visit.
It still staggers me at the skill the actors have to bring the
"puppets" to life whilst they appear to disappear from the audiences
view. If you've not see War Horse then I urge you to go and see it,
especially if you have children who you think are mature enough to
handle a story about WW1.
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Our seats were F47, 48, 49 and 50 in the stalls, price £25 each.
These were fantastic seats and great value for money considering the
seats next to ours then went up to £40.
Brilliant view, even though they were at the side and some reviews
said that you may not be able to see everything - but this did not
cause a problem. Lots of lovely leg room as the theatre is fairly
new compared to some of the old Victorian theatres.
Some of the comments mentioned the noise, however considering you
are two rows back from the stage, this is something you can't do
much about and would be there even if you had the most expensive
seat in the stalls. We did not find the noise a problem.
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The monkey advises checking performance times on your tickets and
that performances are happening as scheduled, before travelling.
Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday at 7.30pm
Tuesdays at 7pm
Thursday and Saturday at 2.30pm and 7.30pm
2pm and 7pm on 23rd, 27th, 28th, 30th December 2013 and 2nd and 4th
January 2014.
1.30pm on 24th and 31st December 2013.
7pm on 26th December 2013 and 1st and 3rd January 2014.
Runs 2 hours 40 minutes approximately.
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View this information in
diagram form
Until 26th October 2013
Monday to Thursday performances, EXCEPT "Peak Dates":
Stalls
All seats £57.50 except:
Row E 4, 5, 42, 43; F 5, 6, 47, 48; G 4, 5, 51, 52; H 4, 5, 55, 56; I 3, 4, 64,
65: £42.50
Row E 2, 3, 44, 45; F 3, 4, 49, 50; G 2, 3, 53, 54; H 2, 3, 57, 58; I 3, 4, 64,
65; L48; M 47: £25
Row I 1, 2, 66, 67: £12
Row E 17 to 30, F 19 to 34, G 20 to 36, H 22 to 39
and I 23 to 46 are
normally sold at "Premium" prices (£85) at all performances.
Dress Circle:
All seats £57.50 except:
Row A 27 to 66, B 72 to 76, C 1 to 4 and 50 to 59: £42.50
Row A 72 to 77 and B 77 to 84: £25
Row A 6 to 13, 16 to 26, 67 to 71 and 80 to 87; B7 to 14, 17 to 29 and 87 to 94:
£12
Row A 14, 15, 78, 79; B 15, 16, 85, 86: £10
Friday and Saturday performances, plus all "Monday to Thursday Peak Dates":
Stalls
All seats £59 except:
Row E 4, 5, 42, 43; F 5, 6, 47, 48; G 4, 5, 51, 52; H 4, 5, 55, 56; I 3, 4, 64,
65: £45
Row E 2, 3, 44, 45; F 3, 4, 49, 50; G 2, 3, 53, 54; H 2, 3, 57, 58; I 3, 4, 64,
65; L48; M 47: £25
Row I 1, 2, 66, 67: £12
Row E 17 to 30, F 19 to 34, G 20 to 36, H 22 to 39
and I 23 to 46 are
normally sold at "Premium" prices (£85) at all performances.
Dress Circle:
All seats £59 except:
Row A 27 to 66, B 72 to 76, C 1 to 4 and 50 to 59: £45
Row A 72 to 77 and B 77 to 84: £25
Row A 6 to 13, 16 to 26, 67 to 71 and 80 to 87; B7 to 14, 17 to 29 and 87 to 94:
£12
Row A 14, 15, 78, 79; B 15, 16, 85, 86: £10
From 28th October 2013
Monday to Thursday performances, EXCEPT "Peak Dates":
Stalls
All seats £57.50 except:
Row E 4, 5, 42, 43; F 5, 6, 47, 48; G 4, 5, 51, 52; H 4, 5, 55, 56; I 3, 4, 64,
65: £45
Row E 2, 3, 44, 45; F 3, 4, 49, 50; G 2, 3, 53, 54; H 2, 3, 57, 58; I 3, 4, 64,
65; L48; M 47: £25
Row I 1, 2, 66, 67: £12
Row E 17 to 30, F 19 to 34, G 20 to 36, H 22 to 39
and I 23 to 46 are
normally sold at "Premium" prices (£85) at all performances.
Dress Circle:
All seats £57.50 except:
Row A 27 to 66, B 72 to 76, C 1 to 4 and 50 to 59: £45
Row A 72 to 77 and B 77 to 84: £25
Row A 6 to 13, 16 to 26, 67 to 71 and 80 to 87; B7 to 14, 17 to 29 and 87 to 94:
£12
Row A 14, 15, 78, 79; B 15, 16, 85, 86: £10
Friday and Saturday performances, plus all "Monday to Thursday Peak Dates":
Stalls
All seats £59 except:
Row E 4, 5, 42, 43; F 5, 6, 47, 48; G 4, 5, 51, 52; H 4, 5, 55, 56; I 3, 4, 64,
65: £45
Row E 2, 3, 44, 45; F 3, 4, 49, 50; G 2, 3, 53, 54; H 2, 3, 57, 58; I 3, 4, 64,
65; L48; M 47: £25
Row I 1, 2, 66, 67: £12
Row E 17 to 30, F 19 to 34, G 20 to 36, H 22 to 39
and I 23 to 46 are
normally sold at "Premium" prices (£85) at all performances.
Dress Circle:
All seats £59 except:
Row A 27 to 66, B 72 to 76, C 1 to 4 and 50 to 59: £45
Row A 72 to 77 and B 77 to 84: £25
Row A 6 to 13, 16 to 26, 67 to 71 and 80 to 87; B7 to 14, 17 to 29 and 87 to 94:
£12
Row A 14, 15, 78, 79; B 15, 16, 85, 86: £10
Prices include £1 per ticket theatre restoration fee. This may not be shown
on some online systems, but is combined into booking fees where it is missing.
Thus a £57.50 ticket with £2.50 booking fee becomes a £56.50 ticket with a £3.50
fee... confused? So is the monkey...
On most dates throughout the year: Discounts may apply at Monday to Friday performances EXCLUDING school holiday
periods for those aged under 18 and Senior Citizens. Contact the box office for details.
"Day Seats":
A VERY limited number of tickets may go on sale at 10am on the day of
performance to personal callers at the box office priced £25 each. This is
usually around 12 seats, often in the front row of the stalls.
First come-first served, they are subject always to availability
and are usually limited to 1 or 2 per person. They may be paid for in cash or by
credit card, the monkey always advises taking both to be safe, in case one is
preferred over the other. It also always advises
calling the theatre in advance to check that the "day seat" ticket policy is in
operation.
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Theatre Box Office:
www.seetickets.com
provide the service for this theatre.
For this production,
www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/warhorse offers an alternative facility, with no
booking fee. An optional £1 per booking, not per ticket, postage charge applies
if required and time allows.
Booking fees per ticket for
online bookings:
£2.50 per seat on all tickets - except £2.20
on £25 and £1.30 on £15 tickets. A £1 per ticket restoration fee is also added
to all prices. Pays for the oats, thinks the monkey.
Other Online Choices (with
S.T.A.R. genuine ticket
agencies):
When the theatre does not have the tickets you desire available, it is well
worth trying the
Theatremonkey
Ticketshop agency,
telephone
020 7420 9778 (0044 207 420 9778 if calling from outside the United Kingdom), which has booking fees of £13.50 on £57.50
(£14.75 on £59 seats)
tickets - moderate by agency standards, though higher than box
office fees, worth trying as they often have an alternative choice of seats available!
Note
that this system will confirm exact seat numbers prior to purchase.
Ticketmaster.co.uk
offer £57.50 seats with a £7.40 booking fee per ticket (£11 on £85, £7.60 on £59
seats). A £3 per booking
(not per ticket) handling charge is also added. This system allows you to choose
your own seats from the selection the company has available.
Encore
Tickets (telephone 0207 400 1253 /
0044 207 400 1253 if calling from outside the United Kingdom) offer £57.50 seats
with a £15.50 (£16 on £59 seats) per ticket
fee including
restoration fee.
A postage charge of £2 per booking, not per ticket may be applied to
bookings made from UK addresses more than 5 days before the performance.
The "Flexiticket" Exchange Service, allowing FREE transfer / cancellation
(credit note up to 12 months) of your booking up to 3 days before the
performance is also available for £2.50 per ticket. Discounts and "Meal and Show" packages may also be available.
Quality and Value
hotel / theatre ticket packages are also available.
Lastminute.com offer £57.50 seats with a £7.80 booking fee per ticket (£10.20 on £85,
£7.90 on £59, £2 on £15, £4.50 on £10 seats).
NOTE: Seat numbers are NOT available in advance from
this company.
All seats booked in the same price group will, of
course, be together or at the very least be in front or behind each other in the
theatre. In the very unlikely event of this not being possible this company will
call you and give you the option of cancelling your booking. However if booking
in two or more price bands, you will not be sat together.
Please DO NOT purchase if this is unacceptable to you, as all
tickets are sold subject to this condition.
Discounts and "Meal and Show" packages may
also be available. Quality and Value
hotel / theatre ticket packages are also available.
Londontheatredirect.com
offer £57.50 and £59 seats with a £12 booking fee per ticket (£10 on £42.50, £8 on
£27.50 seats).
A box office collection fee of £1.50 OR, if time allows, postage
charge option of £2.75 (£3.75 to non-UK addresses) per booking, not per
ticket applies to all bookings. Optional Ticket Insurance is also available.
Discounts and
Meal and Show Packages may also be available.
ALSO SEE
Tickettree.com for great value "hotel and theatre ticket" packages.
Other Independent S.T.A.R. ticket agencies
may also offer an alternative choice of seats.
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Box Office Information: |
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Tickets offered differ between outlets. Outlets also may offer
different seats via their phone and online systems. Offers may be
available click here. |
Theatre Box Office:
Telephone: 0870
830 0200
(FREE call if using BT.com
Calling Plan at your chosen times)
Operated by See Tickets on behalf of the venue.
For this production, the National Theatre Box Office
on 020 7452 3000 offers an alternative facility, with no booking
fee. An optional £1 per booking, not per ticket, postage charge
applies if required and time allows.
Booking fees per ticket for telephone bookings:
£2.50 per seat on all tickets - except £2.20
on £25 and £1.30 on £15 tickets. A £1 per ticket restoration fee is also added
to all prices. Pays for the oats, thinks the monkey.
For personal callers or by post:
Drury Lane, London. WC2B 5PW
No booking fee for personal callers.
Special Access Needs Customers:
Wheelchair users and other registered disabled
theatregoers can book their seats on 0844 412 4648 and enquire about concessionary prices that may be available to them.
www.reallyuseful.com/theatres/new-london-theatre is the official
venue website.
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Theatre Seat Opinions: |
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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. |
STALLS
Layout:
The stalls are divided into front and rear sections by an aisle
in front of row E.
The Dress Circle overhangs the stalls at row M, and does not affect the
view of the stage from any seat.
The front section of the theatre, rows AA to D is flexible and design
depends on production. Seats can be on a flat floor or, more commonly,
tiered on steps – six inches between each row.
The rear section of the stalls is also divided into a central and two
side sections, and is almost unchanged since "Cats" closed and the
theatre reverted back to a standard format.
Stairwells are let into the front of the central rear section, at the
ends of rows E to I.
New seating has narrowed the aisles slightly, and some rows have been
raised a little as well, improving sightlines further.
When in step layout, all seats offers a good rake
(seats arranged on steps to help see over rows in front).
Legroom:
Good in most seats, slightly less in rows O to P.
Excellent in rows D and E and row I seats 23, 24, 45 and 46. All these
have aisles in front.
Choosing Seats in General:
Front Section:
Centre block rows B to D are prime, with a good view over those in
front and central to the stage. Some readers appreciate being even
further forward to become engrossed in the action.
The side blocks extend around the stage, with the outermost seats having
a slightly lesser viewing angle.
Seats C1 and 20 are singles, meaning less disturbance without anybody
sitting beside you...
Rear Section:
"Warning.....seats in row E are almost on the same level as seats in row
D so be prepared for a blocked view!!"
A warning worth heeding, feels the monkey, who was depressed at the results
of an experiment carried out to test this report.
Rows F 19 to 34, G 20 to 36, H 22 to 39, I23 to 46 and J 23 to 46 are as
good as centre front block row D. There are stairwells at either end of
these rows but the view is fine.
Row I seats 23, 24, 45 and 46 have only gangways in front - no seats - and,
being elevated, offer a combination of prime views and comfort.
Rows J to L offer a good view at a fair price. Perhaps take the first and
last few seats in K and L second if you are shorter and are worried by a
stairwell in front, but for everyone else these rows are a must, feels the
monkey.
Rows M and N feel a little further back, but still nicely close to the
thrust stage.
Rows O and P feel a fair way from the stage due to the rake. The very ends
of these two rows may be disturbed by folk clomping up the aisle, but no
good reason to miss them. The central view has been noted as highly
desirable by several readers who have commented.
The rear section side blocks of the stalls wrap around the sides of the
theatre, curving inwards to give a good intimacy with the stage. The only
problem is sometimes in the first and last few seats - the monkey estimates
around four or so in each row can't see into the space behind the proscenium
arch. Being further back is the way to go here and the seats nearest the
centre aisle are the first to aim for the monkey feels. Be aware that most
centre block seats are priced the same, though, and try for them first.
Wheelchair users have a choice. Either row N seats 1 and 2 can be removed,
for a chair to be parked, or else a normal office style chair with arms can
be placed there for wheelchair users to transfer into. This is a pretty good
viewing position as wheelchair spaces go, though it is a bit of a shame that
the old row F position has been removed - it was that bit closer to the
front. See notes for further information.
Cheap M47 is cheap for a reason - by the sound desk, view lost a bit.
General Hazard Notes:
Row J seats 11 to 15 and 41 to 45 are behind stairwell walls with a bar
on the top. Thanks to generous legroom, the view is unaffected - the
distance cancels out any issue - except for those under five foot tall, who
will find the bar in front mildly annoying.
Changes for the current production:
Rows AA to D are present, wrapping around and raked to a thrust stage.
Central D offers the best of the views usually.
Central rows E to I are normally sold at "Premium" prices (£85) at all
performances. Your call on rows F to I, feels the monkey... row E is a
terrible idea at the price, it feels, as you can’t see over heads in
front.
In the rear section outer blocks the discounted end seats are fair value
considering price and view, to the monkey mind, but it urges caution if
buying as a "special treat." These are for the impecunious and keen
theatregoers in particular, it feels.
Reader Comments:
"AA17 to 20: “Warhorse” (March 2009. Amazing seats, must be the
best in the theatre for this show. We were not watching the show "WE
ACTUALLY FELT WE WERE IN THE ACTION!!"
“Row A: The incredible skills of the puppeteers could be appreciated in
even more detail."
"A5 and 6: Perfect seats being so close to the action with at one point
having the two Tommies sitting on the edge of the stage right by us."
"A 9 to 12: I would say that most of the seats in rows A and B are
perfect but looking round the auditorium, every seat seemed to offer
great views. The first row, AA might leave you craning your neck up a
bit much especially if you’re below average height. Our seats in row A
were in the middle section of the stalls and I think we had among the
best seats in the house; it was a totally immersive and intimate theatre
experience. The actors and horses use the every part of the stage, often
coming right up to the very edge of it so they are within 6 feet of
you."
"A19 and 20: We were within touching distance of the stage, so we could
see really clearly the detail of the horses and at one point thought we
were in the trenches too!"
"B 17 to 19: This is actually the third row but pretty central. With the
rake and the proximity of the stage you are pretty much in the
production. Sit further back if you want to see the bigger picture, but
if you want to get up close and personal with the horses then these
seats are fantastic! Legroom – not too bad but there wasn’t much option
for me other than to sit up straight and get wedged in. Cue a bit of
grumbling from behind but the way the seats are arranged I don’t think
it could have been as bad as in other theatres. I was with my mother on
this occasion, being significantly smaller than I am she thought the
seats were amazing – comfortable and a stunning view."
"D 3 and 4: "War Horse". Were brilliant. I felt close but not too close
to the stage; we could see everything perfectly. There seems to be a
good rake on the first four rows of the stalls, we were in row D and the
people in front did not affect the view at all. I think the row behind
us was on the same level though so I don't imagine the view from row E
would have been as good."
"D3, D4 and D5: "War Horse," (November 2011). We paid £57 each for our
tickets (an extra couple of quid per ticket was added because of
'insurance' which we forgot to deselect when booking our tickets
online). We had a great view of the entire stage apart from at a couple
of points when the actors where on the ground at the front of the stage
and the person's head in front of me kept getting in the way (my mother
and sister on either side of me had no such issues luckily). I'm 6ft
tall and felt the legroom was fantastic, I could even stretch out,
easily the best of any theatre I've been in."
“Row E: Seats in row E are almost on the same level as seats in row D so
be prepared for a blocked view!!"
"F47, 48, 49 and 50:
“War Horse.” Price £25 each. These were fantastic
seats and great value for money considering the seats next to ours then
went up to £40. Brilliant view, even though they were at the side and
some reviews said that you may not be able to see everything - but this
did not cause a problem. Lots of lovely leg room as the theatre is
fairly new compared to some of the old Victorian theatres. Some of the
comments mentioned the noise, however considering you are two rows back
from the stage, this is something you can't do much about and would be
there even if you had the most expensive seat in the stalls. We did not
find the noise a problem. (now top price, editor).
"F49: “War Horse” (March 2009), (Paul). Priced at £25. Absolutely
excellent value for money, considering that two seats further into the
centre the price jumps to £40! Yes, you do see some of the action
‘side-on’, but the sight lines are so utterly brilliant that you miss
very little. These side stall seats are so close to the stage, that when
the horses wander around, you can see the detail so clearly – I would
actually rate the £25 seats in F and probably E as ‘green’ seats – what
you get for what you pay is far superior to seating of similar price in
other West End houses. Be warned if you sit in Row E, you need to keep
all belongings under your seat and your legs tucked in as actors use the
walkway numerous times during the show."
"Rows H, I and J (central): Most agreed they were the best theatre seats
we have ever had or could possibly have. It was just like watching
Cinerama for those old enough to remember that. Absolutely central and a
steep rake so all of us had perfect unobstructed views with full
peripheral vision of the highly extended stage."
"H 3, 4 and 5: (Gary). Close to to the stage at the side for less £25
each (face value). Quite good, but when some of the scenes took place
centre stage it was difficult to hear the dialogue at times. The scene
where Albert and horse are galloping, slow motion like - which looked in
impressive on the video trailer - totally lost sitting at this angle. I
suppose for these reasons this is why these seats are much less to pay
for than the centre. Worth seeing, but get discounted centre stall
seats."
“H 8, 9 and 10: “War Horse”. These seats are normally £35, but £25 if
you’re under 18 / look a bit like you might be under 18, at some
performances. These seats were great, really close to the stage and you
still see everything even though you’re off to the side. However, for
£35, I would say it might be better to go to the seats next door (5, 6,
7) and pay £10 less, or pay £10 more and sit in the middle. My parents
and older sister (can’t get away with pretending to be under 18) sat in
I 5, 6 and 7, and they said these seats were great too, with a good
view. I would say that it’s definitely worth sitting in the stalls for
this production because it’s all about emotions and the horses, so it’s
great to get a close-up view. I’d definitely go the side seats rather
than similarly priced seats in the circle."
"I 29 and 30: A fantastic view: Central to the stage and on eye level
with the actors. The rows are well graduated, with the seats in front of
me being quite low, i.e. their heads were level with my knees, so no
chance of being obstructed by the viewer in front. I think this is
really important, and this theatre has got it spot on. Plenty of leg
room. Forgot I was even in a theatre during the performance. The perfect
seats in my opinion, and if I'm lucky enough to go again then I will try
and get these seats again - can't give them a bigger thumbs up than
that! They could easily sell as 'premium priced. (The monkey hopes the
producer doesn't get ideas from this comment... sadly, they did...).
“I61: "War Horse" (March 2009). I went for this seat at £27.50 It was an
excellent seat in one of the best theatres I have ever been in for first
class sight lines and seating (stadium style and, being 6ft 3,” lots of
leg-room). The view couldn’t have been better and was very close to the
stage but not intimidating so. If only all West End theatres offered
views like this. As I was sitting there waiting for it to start, taking
it all in, my phone went and it was a couple of friends sitting 10 seats
to my right. At the interval we had a chat and they were very miffed
after asking me how much I paid as theirs were £65 each and the view was
virtually the same!"
"I63: "War Horse" (March 2009), (Richard Bradbury). A fantastic view of
the stage and you are close enough to really feel part of the production
and to see the detail and expressions of the actors and the puppets.
Even though it is on the side of the stage, for £27.50 midweek I thought
this seat offered excellent value for money."
"J24 and 25: We cannot complain about either the view or comfort as
there's plenty of legroom and it gave us a great view of the stage."
"J24 and J25: Offered an absolutely superb view of the whole stage. Yes,
you do have to pay a premium for seats such as these but it's money well
spent for a great view of a magical and moving production."
“Rows J and K: "War Horse" (March 2009). In rows J / K we felt really
close to the action. Great seats...but not cheap!. Not a problem with
the seats, but marginally with the production, is that in one scene in
the second half the area immediately in front of the front row of the
stalls becomes 'the trenches,' and it's not easy to see the actors. It
doesn't really matter, but we could see that some others in the theatre
could hear the actors but couldn't work out where they were, and when
they did couldn't actually see them."
"K25 to K28: “Imagine This” (James – regular reader). Excellent,
unobstructed view and perfect sound."
"M23: Seat was absolutely brilliant, and would have gladly paid more.
The rake in the New London is very good; pretty much every seat in the
central section will be good!"
"M43: When I went to door marked "rear of stalls", my heart sank. It
shouldn't have done. The rake made for a great panoramic view. Couldn't
see some of the cast that were joining in from the lower stalls, but in
some ways it just made their appearance more magical."
"O32 and T33: "Imagine This" (November 2008), (James – regular reader).
Perfect sound from here and a fantastic rake ensures a perfect view. I
thought it felt a little distant to be paying top price and I was lucky
to get them at TKTS for half price which I thought was a very fair deal.
The only shame is that the overhang of the circle hides some of the
fabulous set but you don’t miss any of the action. Also, there are some
small lights at the back of the stalls which stay on during the
performance which were a little distracting but definitely good seats to
go for, especially at discount."
"O31 to 33: “War Horse” (2009). Very good indeed. I am over 6ft and had
decent leg room as well as a splendid view and the full effect of the
lights and sound."
DRESS CIRCLE
Layout:
Nothing overhangs this circle. It is still a narrow
shelf, unchanged since "Cats" left, except that the side additions, which
extend down the sides of the auditorium towards the stage, have been
modified.
The circle is split into a large central, and two side blocks, by aisles.
A high metal bar runs across the front of the centre block of the circle,
and beyond it is a short lip of concrete before the plunge to the stalls.
Bars and mesh are in front of side block seats.
The central block is a narrow ledge of five well-raked rows.
Side blocks are also well raked, with between 2 and 3 rows.
Legroom:
Just adequate legroom in all seats, much more in row A if the bars
aren't an issue with you. Cramped in D 1 and 44.
Choosing Seats in General:
The monkey compared the feel of this circle with that of the Olivier
auditorium at the National Theatre. If you are happy seated in rows D or
E of that theatre, then D and E here are comparable, it feels.
Centre Block:
Choose row C 7 to 43 or D seats 5 to 40 first. Along with row C, though,
also consider central block rear stalls at the same price too.
At lower prices, think about row A if bars are not a problem for you.
Row E does not feel too remote from the action if the bars are a
problem.
Side Blocks:
Watch again for rails blocking views - and consider central block seats
for the same top price where possible. You may as well put up with the
bars / other restrictions on view and pay quite a lot less to sit
further along the row.
Even further to the extreme sides of the theatre, not quite peering
through lighting as they were for a previous production, row A 6 to 13 /
80 - 87 and row B 7 to 14 and 87 to 94 are separate small bench blocks
with an adequate view for the price. Again, well discounted, they would
be fair value.
General Hazard Notes:
The view in row A is affected by safety bars, but the extra concrete
ahead may re-assure the vertigo sufferer seated here a little.
Those in row B may not be too keen on the bars in view either, but it is
far less and the stage is clear beyond them.
Bars at the front of the circle increases to double height at the ends
of the circle aisles, with dire problems for those seated closest to
them.
Metal posts at the ends of rows B to D also cut into the view
significantly.
The monkey rates D 1 and 44 as the two worst seats in the place - enough
metal in view to keep an orthodontist happy for years... and cramped
too.
Row A 6 to 13 / 80 - 87 and B 7 to 14 and 87 to 94 are benches. Be wary
if you have back problems, and arrive early to claim your bit of them.
Changes for the current production:
Outer side block seats are well discounted - allowing for rails a
little; really "fair value." Only row B 72 to 76 and C 1 to 4 and 50 to 59
seem a little pricey at £39.50.
Reader Comments:
“Row A: “Gone
With the Wind”, (Teresa). We had a perfect view of the stage and there was a
lot of space for our legs!"
"A16 and 17: "War Horse" (March 2009). A decent view from the side - if you
can put up with peering through the metal mesh in front to see some bits of
the stage - and you do feel close to the action in a way that you wouldn’t
do in many circles. The legroom will have anyone over 5ft 6 longing for the
interval, and the seats are not very well padded, but at £16 a ticket they
are still good value."
“A27 and 28: “War Horse,” (Chris B). These seats are on the far right
(as you look at the stage) of the central block of the front row of the
dress circle. They are slightly cheaper than full price but I would
recommend these seats every time. They have a great, clear view of the
whole stage (and it is a very wide one) and there is plenty of legroom.
I think it really helps to be raised up for Warhorse, as it is such a
wide stage and there is so much going on all throughout the stage it
helps to appreciate it more. The circle doesn’t feel that far back from
the stage either.”
"A60: “War Horse”. Appalling seat... Safety Bars and steel mesh were bad
enough, but an enormous spotlight directly in front of the seat obscured
half the stage. Even leaning forward and perching on the edge of my seat, it
was still not possible to see the whole stage. AVOID!"
"A84: "War Horse" (March 2009). Paid £16.30 including booking fee. If
looking straight at the stage, this is front row side circle, left hand side
of the stage. The front of the stage curve is a couple of metres to the
right from this seat. My first visit to this theatre, and I reckon that I
got good value for money. For the price I expected a more restricted and
uncomfortable view, but, with the front "wall" being metal wire square,
there was visibility to action below - although I think those in row B would
have missed quite a bit. I had clear view of around 80% of the action. Also,
as a "larger" person, this was the most comfortable seat I have had in the
West End. Wide enough, plenty of leg room, and soft enough seat. I'm a
notorious fidget but hardly shuffled here! Temperature fine too."
"D25. Froze for the entire 3 hours 40 minutes running time as I sat under an
air conditioning vent."
"D25 and 26: (Lizzie). Central seats are good. The side seats are possibly
not so good although the way the show is performed means there are no really
bad views. Only thing to remember with the Dress Circle is that there are a
lot of stairs to negotiate to get to your seats so not recommended for those
with any problems in that area."
"D 30 to 33: “War Horse”. A really good view of the stage, and nothing
missed. The seats were really comfy and had high backs to them - which made
it feel like an armchair. Pretty tight on legroom though, although I wasn't
too cramped - like I have been in certain venues."
Notes
944 seats, plus wheelchair places.
Air-conditioned auditorium.
Infrared headsets available. Occasional signed performances. Guide dog sitter
available. Adapted unisex toilet - sadly they could not find space to fit two,
gender segregated ones. The existing one is well equipped, though.
Access to auditorium for chair users is difficult. Users enter via the stage
door, where a portable ramp is placed over two large shallow stairs to bring
your chair down to floor level.
At this point, any chair wider than around 50cm must be surrendered; and the
occupant transferred into a small chair provided by the theatre. This is to
allow users to get into the tiny elevator up to the fourth floor. A 90 degree
turn must also be negotiated in the one - metre square elevator in order to exit
at the correct level.
On arrival at the fourth floor, access to the theatre is gained by a 50 metre
walk / push along a narrow corridor (superb view from the windows!). This
corridor also houses the adapted toilet. Entering via door 4 into the theatre is
flat and wheelchair users have a choice. Either row S seats 1 and 2 can be
removed, for a chair to be parked, or else a normal office style chair with arms
can be placed there for wheelchair users to transfer into. Wheelchair users who
can make the move are also welcome to transfer into normal theatre seats in that
area of the stalls too. The view from all available seats in that area is pretty
good, making the choice a broad one.
Specific information from
www.seetickets.com
or 0844 412 4648 or e-mail customer.relations@rutheatres.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 confectionery and Ice cream.
Two bars at stalls level.
8 toilets in all; Ground floor foyer 1 gents 2 cubicles, 1 ladies 6 cubicles;
Stalls 1 gents 1 cubicle, 1 ladies 4 cubicles, 1 unisex disabled. Dress Circle 2 gents 1 cubicle
each, 2 ladies 3 cubicles each.
One reader comments of the 'Ladies' facilities in December 2007,
"The facilities on our level were along a narrow corridor with the Gents
at the far end; this meant that all the men had to push past and through
the queuing ladies - and Boy! was there a queue. Packed theatre, only 3
cubicles, one of which was out of order. By the time we emerged the
queue stretched down the stairs and they had to extend the interval to
accommodate everyone.
At another performance things were a little better, mainly because the
theatre wasn't full but this time we were on the opposite side and one
of the cubicles had a broken lock so a lot of whistling and shouting was
going on in there. Lavatories none too clean, either, the ones on Kings
Cross station on our way home were much better."
In March 2009, a reader adds,
"We agree with the comment on this site about the toilets. Completely
inadequate (ladies) and hard to get at (gents squeezing past queuing
ladies) in a new build theatre. And it made for a long interval whilst
the front of house manager ensured that everyone had got back to their
seats, although ladies in our party report 'panic' amongst other queuing
ladies that they'd miss the start. So might be an idea if management
informed the queue that they wouldn't start without them!"
Another monkeyette reader suggest in May 2009,
"If you're fed up with the queues for the
loos in the interval on the stalls and circle sections, you can get a
'pass-out' ticket from the steward and relieve yourself in the
facilities located downstairs in the foyer in the area around the back
of the escalator, where there are MANY cubicles and NO queues -
Phew!!!!"
The monkey thanks Berni, Terry and all in the box office for their
help in providing this information. Much appreciated.
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Nearest Underground Station:
Holborn - Piccadilly Line (dark blue) and Central Line (red).A photograph illustrated version of this walking route is available by clicking
here.
For mobility impaired audience members, the Society of London
Theatre provide a "photo map" - illustrated walking route to this venue from a
near landmark and also Waterloo Station (the nearest fully accessible station)
on their website
www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk, via the theatre's listing page on that
site.
There are two exits from this station. If you see, on leaving the station, a branch of McDonalds
ahead of you on the opposite
side of the road then do not cross this road, just turn left and walk to the four
way crossroads. If you come to a three way cross roads, wrong way. If you leave the station and
see ahead of you on the other side of the road a glass building with a
"Sainsbury" sign ahead of you.... turn right
and walk to the four way crossroads a few paces away. Then... At the crossroads, Cross straight over the road and walk straight
on passing the glass "Sainsbury" building. You are now on a street
called "High Holborn". If you
pass a church or the Shaw Theatre, wrong way.
The next street you come to is Newton Street. Turn left into it and walk
along it, changing to the other side of the road when possible. Cross Macklin
Street when you come to it and continue to the next corner with Parker Street.
Turn right at this corner into Parker Street and walk straight on to the New
London Theatre, which is on the right hand side of the road.
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Buses:
1, 68, 91, 168, 171, 188, 501, 505, 521, X68 all stop on Kingsway.
Walk up Parker Street to the theatre.Taxi:
A rank for Black taxis is on Drury Lane, 20 yards from the theatre, if
you cannot hail one in the street.
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Car Park:
In Parker Street, under the theatre.
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