STALLS
Layout:
The Dress Circle overhangs the stalls at row J, the view from row O back
is slightly affected - the top of the stage not visible.
The rake in the stalls is good, notably from row E back.
Legroom:
Acceptable in all seats for all but the tallest. An odd curve of the
floor in front of each row prevents easy stretching out of feet under the
seats in front.
H1 and H28 have nothing in front.
Tall reader Paul observes: "J9 and 10: Leg room was OK. If I sat up dead
straight it was fine, but no room for movement - which meant severe knee
lock. However, the view more than made up for this, and for people of a more
average size I would highly recommend them. My wife thought they were
great!"
Another six foot person agrees in row N, while a six foot tall man in row C
just found legroom tight.
Choosing Seats in General:
The front row can vary by production. It is often row BB or AA.
Remember that the stage may be high for musicals and at them the conductor
may be in view from some seats in the first rows (which can annoy the odd
purist, the monkey finds). To date, nobody has complained, but sitting
further back minimises the issue.
It is worth avoiding the first and last four seats in rows BB to P. In
rows BB to C the viewing angle from these seats is uncomfortable for the
price. From row D to P the angle of the walls as they narrow towards the
stage is the problem.
Best seats in the stalls are rows G and H 7 to 20 and J 7 to 23. Then
take seats around this - rows K, L, M, N, O, E, D in that order.
When Row Q are top price, try for the furthest forward you can at top price,
there's circle overhang back here.
At top price, row S seems a bit far back for the cash.
The rake
(sloped floor to help see over rows in front) in the rear stalls is good but the theatre is large and the last
three rows feel far from the stage... not quite as far away as the
equivalently priced seats in the back of the dress circle, though.
Rear stalls rows also have better legroom than equivalent Dress Circle
seats, another reason for making them worth considering.
Discounted, row T is OK, but row U, right behind it, has the same view and
may be cheaper still... The monkey would happily hand over a banana or two
for those. More comfortable than the upper circle at the same price too.
A sound desk is often present in the centre of rows T to W. Purists might
want to avoid T6 to 16, plus U to W3 and 11. Most won't mind, though.
General Hazard Notes:
Extreme end seats often have lesser views due to walls and light
fixings.
Sound desk in the rear stalls.
It is a long walk and many stairs down to the stalls entrance from the main
foyer.
Changes for the current production:
The front row is row AA. Not too bad, as you are not looking upwards
that sharply and it's cheaper. On the other hand, there are speakers placed for maximum noise
at the front of the stage. As a way to get close to the stage at a low
price, the monkey probably would take these ahead of seats further back as
there isn't any need to "take in the whole stage" from a distance at this
show. Not for those bothered by loud noise, though.
Behind it, row BB is a bit expensive at top price, feels the monkey, who would try
for the central seats 5 to 11 first for the best viewing angle.
Be aware that this production has "TV Screens" fixed either side of the
stage. This restricts views from seats 1 and 2 in all rows to E, and from BB
14 and 15, A 16 and 17, B 17 and 18, C 19 and 20, D 20 and 21, E 21 and 22.
There is a price drop in these seats. Worth a thought for being close to the
stage at a lower price - row E first, then forward to B, taking the inner
seat first (unless you prefer an aisle). Think carefully about anything
forward of row B, though, as the viewing angle isn't great.
Prime central seats in rows D to H are set to "premium price." Monkey advice
is try for seats nearby unless you really don't mind paying the extra. Rows
J to L are "regular top" price and central row J in particular is
far better than any "premium" seat ahead of it.
Row R is cheaper than row Q, for a similar view. Need the monkey say
more?
At £35, rows U to W are about fair. You'll probably miss the
top of the rear-stage projections, but save a bit.
Reader Comments:
"Stalls: (Taljaard): I got a £60 front row of the stalls seat for
£25 and it was not bad at all."
"Stalls: I went down and looked at the front few rows where I normally sit
by choice, and (as others have commented) for this particular production the
whole of the front couple of rows look awful and may merit red, not just the
sides. The problem is the substantial height of the stage but also they’ve
got a very shallow orchestra pit between the front seats and the stage,
literally three feet max. I’m amazed that they’re selling these front rows
at full price as your diagram suggests. (The monkey felt it one for fans
more than anything, really).”
"Row BB: Legally Blonde” (June 2010), (Matt). The issue with the orchestra
pit appears to have been resolved; there is a generous drop (4 to 5ft);
along with a 3ft barrier in front of row BB (the previous comment on this
might have been a 'preview thing'?). However, this change has necessitated
the use of monitors perched on the circle so that the performers can see the
conductor -- ordinarily this is fine, but during one particular scene in the
second act where there is minimal lighting on stage, the flickering from
these monitors may be annoying to some in the Stalls."
"Row AA: (Danielle). When sold cheap, I thought this was amazingly good
value as I have seen other shows in the West End on the front row at top
price. Once I got to my seat I was surprised there was so much room between
me and the stage! You do have to look up a bit, and can only see the cast
from the knee upwards when they are towards the back of the stage, but this
isn't often. You do get a few drops of water on you during one scene but
nothing major. The seats were great value for money!"
"Row BB: When cheap, these were good; on the tickets it did say about the
stage so high, and when I sat down I was worried about this as it was
high... however it was fine -. you can see everything. What a great view, to
be sooo close to the four good-looking leads."
"BB1 to 4 (when AA not in use): (FB). As the price was reduced for this row
and one at the back circle at the show we attended. We were told this row
was second from the front, but was, in fact the front row. We watched the
orchestra rehearse, and did have to stand up several times to let orchestra
latecomers gain access through a gate! We were concerned that the noise
level might be excessive, particularly when we saw lots of speakers, but we
needn't have worried. The acoustics were perfect, and we had a good view of
the stage. This is at eye level so we were looking up, but this didn't give
us neck ache. I wouldn't have selected these seats at full price, but at a
discounted £20 they represented very good value for money."
"BB 1 to 4: (George). I sat in BB2 and, in my opinion, these were possibly
the best seats in a show I've seen. The action was all very close to me and
all the way through Amy Lennox who was on as Elle looked at us and was
waving and blowing kisses at the end to us!" (Remember that a) these seats
were heavily discounted, raising the value and b) there is no guarantee that
Ms Lennox will be there to shower them with as much favour at other
performances of course, notes the monkey...).
“BB10: "Legally Blonde" (2009). Entered the preview performances lottery and
was put in row BB 10 for £10!!!! WOW! (£25 for performances from January
2010 - Editor). What a view. You miss the tiniest little bits of the show,
but for £10 it was the bargain of the century. On a second visit we won BB7
stalls! PERFECT!"
"BB 13 and 14: (George). The front row at the Savoy Theatre is very good
with the lottery offer! The stage isn't high, and you don't really need to
crane your neck to see the stage!"
“BB14: Won in the lottery system and £25 could be considered extortion given
the incredibly poor view of the stage. My neck was craned back so far that
it hurt; the stage was so near and so high that I couldn't see any of the
dogs when they were on the stage floor, nor could I see the performers from
their waists down when they walked toward the back of the stage. A stack of
speakers were right in front of this seat and make such a noise that the man
next to me was almost in my lap at times. Given that offers were available
in which a top-price ticket could be purchased for £20, I find it
inconceivable that the producers should dare charge £25 for lottery tickets
when the view is so appalling."
"BB14 and BB15: (Neil). £15 each through the lottery system. The show itself
was worth the £15 but if I’d spent the £60+ asked for some seats I’d have
felt mugged for what was offered. The stage was a bit too high for the first
few front rows meaning that neck-craning was essential during many scenes
(even for a 6ft 7” tall bloke like me), where performers' waists upwards are
only visible from the back of the stage. Some minor details on the floor
were out of sight from audiences in the front few rows altogether which
meant that I had to just curiously listen to the audience reaction and guess
what all the “awww”’s were about. We could also clearly see the orchestra
pit directly under the stage which often caught your eye, consequently
taking away from some of the show’s impact. (The monkey was surprised about
the "not seeing from the waist down" comment, but not about the speakers.
One for fans more than anyone else, it thinks).”
“BB13 (and BB8 and L3): "Legally Blonde", (Mark). I AM ADDICTED. Saw the
show 3 times last month. Have sat in BB13, BB8 and L3, all of which I got
from the ticket lottery wins. Personally for me, BB8 was the best seat a fan
of the show could ever want. I felt like I was at a private viewing, the
amount of eye contact and connection I had with the actors. Just amazing. On
another visit, in BB3 I decided that seriously, all fans of this show need
to experience it from the front row. It is amazing!"
"Row A: "Fiddler On The Roof" (2007). I also would not recommend seats in
row A. The stage is very high and I felt I was missing some of the action
particularly during the wedding scenes. I was surprised to see so many empty
seats but it did mean that I was able to move back a couple of rows at the
interval and the view was excellent from row D."
"A16 and 17: "Legally Blonde" (December 2009). Far too close to a fairly
high stage, and right next to a very big speaker, but I have sat in worse
places. I don't feel that I missed anything, and I didn't suffer too much
with neck ache so it can't have been that bad."
"B6: "Legally Blonde" (December 2009). Excellent view."
"Row C: Ideally three or four rows back would have been a little better as
you can't see the feet of the performers in row C even though I am 6'2," but
who is complaining as this time I wasn't paying!"
"C3: “Legally Blonde” (December 2009), (Sophie). I was worried beforehand
that it might be too far to one side - I was completely wrong! I had a
perfect view, and didn't miss one thing. It was definitely worth £40 preview
price for a ticket."
"C5: I paid £35 through the GILT ticket offer (runs January to March each
year). I'm 6ft tall and felt I had satisfactory leg room and could even
stretch out a bit under the seat in front of me. Being so close to the stage
means you have to look up resulting in a slight neck ache, plus you miss the
the performers feet at times, but otherwise I had an excellent view."
"C10 and 11: “Legally Blonde”. These seats are absolutely amazing! You don’t
miss a minute of the show, no part of the performance is obscured! Well
worth the ticket value. If I was every offered these tickets again I
wouldn’t hesitate. After seeing the show twice, once from the stalls and
once from the dress circle, I would recommend the stalls between row E and
L."
"C10 to 14: (Jayne, Loz, Caileigh, Leanne and Natalie). Brilliant view of
the stage, we age from 12 to 50 and all 5 of us thoroughly enjoyed it. The
theatre is small (similar to the Aldwych) but there is a fair amount of
legroom in the stalls, though the seats could do with a bit more padding."
“D1 and 2: (Cathy). Were very worried, being at the end of a row, but the
Savoy is such a cute, architecturally-beautiful and compact theatre it
didn't matter. We still felt the whole experience and sound wasn't too bad."
“Row E: Brilliant seats.”
"F12 and 13: Great seats right in the centre, quite close to the action but
not too close."
"F14 and 15: Good seats with a full view of the stage."
"F17 and 18: "Legally Blonde" (December 2009). Great seats, very close to
the action without missing any of the stage, which was about eye-level with
us. Probably best not to be further forward if paying top-whack."
"G15 and 16: “Legally Blonde” (Chris). Great position and view of the stage.
I might have preferred just a couple of rows back but certainly wouldn’t
have thought they are worth the 'Premium' price tag at that show. Watch out
for the air conditioning though; cold air seems to come out from under the
seats so if you don’t like having cold legs wear boots or leg warmers!!!"
"G16: "Fiddler On The Roof", (James – regular reader). What a fantastic
seat. There is a good rake so my view wasn't obscured at all by anyone and
due to the high stage I certainly wouldn't want to be any closer. The sound
was great from here and I could see everyone's faces very clearly.
Definitely worth the top price."
"Row H: (Lizzie). Great view and not bad on the leg room either."
"H 10 and 11: “Legally Blonde”, (Linda O'Reilly). These were brilliant
seats. The rows are ramped up so there is no problem with not being able to
see behind someone tall. We had the most perfect view of the stage. Lots of
legroom too, which surprised me."
“H18: "Legally Blonde" (December 2009), (Matt). I think it's very hard to
get a bad Stalls seat in this theatre, other than due to overpricing. I was
in (top bracket but not premium) yesterday (13th June 2010), and the view
was stunning. There are still occasionally sound issues with the production
-- yes, even in middle stalls! -- but positionally for stage view,
absolutely excellent."
"H 19 and 20: (Brian and Margaret). Excellent seats. Other comment: the
Savoy is a small theatre, and I would say the view in the stalls is good
from any row, remembering that the stage is raised, so you will be looking
up if you sit in the first five rows."
“Rows J and K: We had superb seats in rows J and K central stalls and with
the seats angled so you are looking between the two seats in front it
wouldn't matter if there was a tall person in front. If only all theatres
did that and not just in the best seats."
"J9 and 10:”Legally Blonde” (December 2009), (Paul – regular reader). A
fantastic view and right next to the premium seats. Save yourself £20 and go
for these instead! Leg room was OK. If I sat up dead straight it was fine,
but no room for movement - which meant severe knee lock. However, the view
more than made up for this, and for people of a more average size I would
highly recommend them. My wife thought they were great!"
"J22 and J23: “Fiddler On The Roof” (Chris). Having previously sat further
forward, I preferred sitting here as the stage is quite high. Again, a good
rake and staggered seating ensures that people in front do not ordinarily
cause any viewing problems."
“Row L: “Legally Blonde”, (Mark). Sitting in Row L was great too for a
different reason in that I got to see the show on a more production level
than when sitting right up close and was able to enjoy the choreography for
Whipped into Shape a lot more. A later visit from P28 at group discount rate
is fine - it didn't even matter that the seat was to the side. However, you
definitely want to be closer to the front if you are paying full price."
"L 5 and 6: Were excellent. The front four rows are on the level and from
the fifth row back the rake is quite pronounced so the row in front of you
is considerably lower than most other theatres. It is also the first theatre
I can recall that has a raised foot-rest level to counteract the slope. I
had two quite tall men sitting in front of me but had no problem at all in
seeing all of the stage (mind you I am 6' 2" myself). The seats are firm but
quite comfortable although it was good to stand in the interval."
“L6: Great view and plenty of legroom.”
"M1: “Legally Blonde”. Discounted £35 Get Into London Theatre ticket: I had
expected it to be a pretty bad view due to the odd layout of the front of
the Savoy Theatre; but for this show it was great. Can’t see the right hand
side of the stage at all, but for most of the action is on the front of the
stage so it takes place inside a large moving frame that quite often created
a proscenium over on the left two-thirds (from the audience point of view)
of the stage anyway. Great legroom in all these mid stalls rows, and M was
at a nice elevation above all the other rows to see without any
obstructions.(Note, as the monkey does, that the reader was on a cheap
ticket and didn't mind missing part of the show... at full price there are
still better seats, it feels...).”
"M15 and 16: (James F). View excellent but the floor curls up so you can’t
put your feet under the seat of the person in front, despite the step (lots
of knee room though). The seats looked good but became uncomfortable after
45 minutes as the arm rests and the backs of the seat in front are just wood
with no cloth on for comfort."
"M23 and M24: "Legally Blonde" (December 2009), (James – regular reader).
Although they're a bit off to the side, the view was excellent and a great
rake certainly helps. One problem though is the sound. Row M is not exactly
the back of the theatre, but it all sounded very distant from here."
N17: "Legally Blonde" (December 2009). Had a fantastic view. I would not
recommend 'premium price' seats if central seats in other rows as far back
as R were available, as I cannot think how the view could be any better.
This is a fairly intimate theatre anyway."
"N18: The seat was fairly comfortable but you feel like you’re sitting bolt
upright. Being 6ft 3” I always feel sorry for anyone behind me and I often
try to lower myself in the chair a little but it was impossible in this
seat! So, if you were behind me I apologise for my big head blocking your
view, although the rake is quite good."
"O8 and 9: "Legally Blonde" (December 2009), (Katharine). The view was
great. The top right hand corner of the stage is (very) slightly cut off but
doesn't affect the performance in any way. Any further back and the view
would definitely be affected, but only for the opening number as this is
performed at the top of stage. I have sat further forward before, all with
perfect views (row F and row D)."
“Row Q: (Jill Dalton). Too far back to see expressions and so on, but the 3
rows in front of us were empty, so we had a great overall view."
"R2 to 5: (Lorna). A good view from seat 3 with OK legroom, a hard seat
though (I can be fussy)."
"T1, 2 and 3: "Legally Blonde" (December 2009), (Cath). These weren't as far
back as they sound and being off to the side wasn't a problem at all; during
the interval we went to have a look at some seats in the middle of row T
that didn't have anyone sitting in them but then we moved back to our
original seats (still in the interval, we didn't disturb anyone!) because
when you sit in the middle you have people's heads directly in front of you
whereas if you're sitting at the side you're looking a bit diagonally so
their heads don't get in the way (I don't think I've explained this very
well but I know what I mean). The only problem with these seats is that
you're very much under the overhang of the dress circle. It only actually
gets in the way during the first couple of songs when people stand on the
top of the stairs: the top of their heads get chopped off a bit and there
are speakers stuck on the ceiling which get in the way a bit. This wasn't
really a huge problem, but I've never sat under the dress circle before and
it just made the whole stage feel a bit smaller, but if you're used to this
it's no problem. I guess in a very roundabout way what I'd say that these
seats are good, but if you're paying top price then obviously get some seats
further forward if you can."
"T17 and 18. For the second row at the back, the view is still amazing, as
the theatre is quite small and it seems in the middle of the action. The
sound too is perfect. The seats are comfortable, though they look hideous,
and the legroom seems very little, but I actually didn't have a problem at
5ft 7 (maybe I've got use to little legroom on my many theatre trips).
Recommend these seats for anyone. The overhang of the Circle above affects
nothing, but it depends on the show you're seeing."
"V13: "The Sunshine Boys" (May 2012), (Taljaard – regular reader). Sat here
for a bargain preview price of £15. Good view but as you can see the entire
stalls in front of you. I found it quite distracting as lots of people were
getting up to go to the toilet, make phone calls etc. The bars at the Savoy
are woeful in size. If you are having drinks in the interval I would highly
recommend you pre order.
DRESS CIRCLE
Layout:
The Upper Circle overhangs the Dress Circle at row G and blocks the view
of the top of the stage from row K back.
Seats are split into front and rear sections by an aisle across the front of
row G.
The front section has 6 continuous rows.
The rear section is divided into two uneven halves by an aisle.
Legroom:
Acceptable to many in A, and certainly adequate in B to D for all but
the tallest.
Poor in row G, barely adequate in rows K to O - except H6, M7 and N8 on
the aisle where the seating is staggered, with nothing ahead.
Choosing Seats in General:
Front Section:
Most seats have a very satisfactory view indeed. Theatremonkey happens to
prefer the front stalls for being closer to the stage, but will still
happily sit here.
Just avoid rows A to C seats 1 to 3 and 28 to 30 as they are towards the
edges of the theatre and offer the least value for money. A 1 and 30 also
have a rail in view.
Two wheelchair positions at F1 offer a poor value view of the stage.
Rear Section:
Rows G to J get rails in view.
Further back, the overhang of the Upper Circle doesn't do much for
sightlines from row L onwards...
Basically, this is the section to skip at top price. The very first and last
4 seats, plus top price row L in full, in particular.
At second price, the monkey might particularly consider row M 8 to 21 and
N17 to 21 - same view as top price row M, but slightly cheaper. Your choice
if you feel missing a little of the top set is worthwhile. Alternatively,
the mid-rear stalls are the same price and more comfortable, back stalls and
front Upper Circle is cheaper still, and way more comfortable and with
better views than row O in particular.
At third price or less, row N in the larger block offers slightly better
value. The rear stalls have a slightly better view and legroom in the
monkey's opinion.
Worth knowing, and avoiding, are the peculiar seats used at N 1 to 8 and
O 1 to 9. Upright backs make them supremely uncomfortable at any price.
At the sides, row G seats 1 to 5 and 24 to 26, rows H to L 1 to 6 and 25
to 27, row M 1 to 6 and 21 to 23, N 1 to 7 and 23 to 25 and O 7 to 9 are all
very much in the corners of the theatre and offer worst value - especially
remembering those prime central seats in the front section are often the
same price as rows G to J here...
H6, M7 and N8, on the aisle where the seating is staggered, have nothing
ahead. The latter pair are often averagely priced too, though N8 suffers the
upright seat problem mentioned above!
General Hazard Notes:
A metal bar runs across the front of the Dress Circle, most say it
doesn't affect the view at all except from the aisle end seats.
A high metal bar runs across the front of row G, badly affecting the view
in rows G, H and J.
The overhang of the Upper Circle doesn't do much for sightlines from row
L onwards.
Upright “joke” seats in the back row, uncomfortable evening ahead.
Changes for the current production:
Central rows B and C are set at "premium" price. Take the seats next to
them instead, feels the monkey.
At top price, skip G to avoid the rail.
Sensible pricing sees rows H to K cheaper. Remember for the price of K you can sit a row behind and get the same view
for £10 less.
Row L 7 to 19 and M 8 to 15 at just £35 per seat are well worth a
look. You'll see more than from the rear stalls, so if legroom isn't an
issue for you, take these (if legroom is, M7 is worth a glance, nothing
in front).
Rows N and O at £25 are only worth looking at if you don't fancy the
upper circle. Only N 18 to 21 are not upright seats against the back
wall, though - so take these first if you have to. These rows are cheap
enough, and have slightly better legroom than the upper circle, but why
pay that to sit 18 rows from the front, when you could have a better
view for the same money upstairs?
Reader Comments:
"A16 to 21: A marvellous view of the stage and possibly the most
legroom a west end theatre is able to offer. Certainly more than I have been
used to in recent visits to theatres. Be warned, do not try to put your
coats over the balcony you will get told to remove them as it is a fire
hazard, we all did!!"
“A22 and 23: “The Sunshine Boys,” (Chris B). You get a good clear
view of the entire stage from these seats and as they are the front row,
the view is completely unobstructed. There is a safety rail but as long
as you don’t slouch in your seats you’ll be absolutely fine and probably
not even notice it very quickly. They are slightly off centre but that
doesn’t detract from the performance. I felt quite high up for a dress
circle but I think it’s just the way the Savoy is and doesn’t affect the
enjoyment of the show. There is legroom to spare which is a refreshing
change.”
"A 23 and 24: "The Sunshine Boys" (May 2012). What a peculiar little theatre
it is! Seats in the Dress Circle (£35 special reduced preview price!) were
fabulous. The rail didn’t spoil the view, though at some points you realised
it was there and at other times it was completely forgotten! Plenty of leg
room too."
"A30: On the ticket it says, not very clearly, 'rail in view'. WELL...I'd
say quite clearly 'restricted view'. The seat has a great big safety rail
blocking a third of the stage."
“B 7 to 9: “Legally Blonde,” (Chris B). Had no trouble with these
seats at all, they are off centre to the right but still could clearly
see the entire stage and easily over the people in front. There is more
than enough legroom too which is always nice.”
"B 30: I paid £25 for this seat and for this price it is OK, but I would be
disappointed paying full price as there is a restriction of about 10% of the
stage missing. The restriction is felt when action takes place stage left as
we look at the stage. Having seen the show from row D on the aisle I would
recommend sitting slightly further back, if possible, to be able to see the
full stage."
"C3: "Legally Blonde" (December 2009), (Luke). I was a bit worried about
been sat towards one side of theatre, but again the view was brilliant as
the width of the theatre is around about the same as the stage."
"C12: "Legally Blonde" (December 2009), (Mark). Very good seat and excellent
view of overall stage. I much prefer the stalls for this show though."
“Row D: Perfect. The sight lines were excellent even for very small children
with no boosters seats."
“D5: "Legally Blonde" (December 2009). £40 being the most expensive West End
ticket I've ever bought. I loved it! Worth everything just for the
atmosphere of being first preview."
“D7: “Legally Blonde”, (Kirsty). It was kind of central, but I could see
everything and I heard everything too."
"E8 and 9: “Legally Blonde”. These tickets are sometimes sold as premium
seats depending on the demand on the day. I got these tickets a couple of
hours before the performance at a discounted price. I would not recommend
paying the premium seat price for these seats. Although you do have an
amazing view of the stage, at certain parts of the show a trapdoor opens in
the stage for props and the actors to appear/ disappear and all you can see
is a black hole in the middle of the stage. This gives a tell-tale sign that
someone or something is about to enter the proceedings. Leg room is
sufficient. After seeing the show twice, once from the stalls and once from
the dress circle, I would recommend the stalls between row E and L."
"E13 and 14: “Legally Blonde” (Luke). The view was brilliant."
"F1 to 5: "Legally Blonde" (December 2009), (Hannah M). The view was
brilliant because of the steep rake, and leg room was fine. Due to being a
student monkey I wouldn't pay the normal £55 price for them, but if my bank
balance allowed I would say the view is worth the money."
"F7 and 8: (Loma). A fine view and quite comfortable."
"F14 and F15: “Fiddler On The Roof”, (James – regular reader). The seats may
be a bit uncomfortable (particularly as Act One is almost two hours) and you
do feel a tiny bit distant from the stage, but the view is very clear and
the sound is great from here too."
"F20: "Legally Blonde" (December 2009). This is in the last row of the front
section of the Dress Circle. A reasonable rake provides a good unrestricted
view from here and although the middle section would be even better, most of
the action in this show takes place in the middle and front sections of the
stage so you will not miss anything.
Behind is the aisle that separates the Dress Circle in two. I would avoid
the back section if possible because the seats are the same price as the
front but to me they seemed a lot further away. I also heard someone
complain that the metal bar that runs in the front of the back section,
restricted their view."
"Row H (centre): (Katie). The view was great but was too far away and too
high up from the stage and the performers all look out to the stalls, so it
is difficult to feel involved or engaged with the show. At £60 for that
seat, it is daylight robbery - fortunately I only paid £25, but still felt
short-changed!"
"H12: "Legally Blonde" (December 2009). Got this in lottery for £25, good
value for that price. Nice clear view, However at full price definitely go
for something closer to the stage."
"N7: (Will Cooper). Theatremonkey readers will be interested to know that
the rear row of this circle is not so much a collection of seats, as a long
line of unnecessarily compact instruments of torture. The seats are right up
against the wall, so the seat backs are flat rather than curved. This meant
that the only way I (5'10") could find comfort was to sit perpendicular to
the seat in a most unorthodox manner, this meant I had to strain my neck in
order to see the stage and went home with quite bad neck pains.
Normally, I am prepared to put up with discomfort if I really want to see a
show or the seats are particularly cheap but I found that, not seeing the
show would be preferable if these were the only seats available. I also
think that these seats were fairly expensively priced considering the view
they gave and the discomfort suffered, even with a 33% under 16's discount."
“Back Row: (Nigel Sitwell). A bit too high up and far back, so we were glad
we brought our binoculars. We are planning a return visit later in the
autumn, when we shall aim for near the front of the Dress Circle or midway
back in the stalls. Hang the expense!"
“Back Row: They are very high and a long way from the stage and inevitably
the actors are looking at the Stalls audience not right up above their heads
where we were."
Dress Circle Box
Layout:
Between the stage and front of the Dress Circle.
Set into the side wall that slopes outwards from the stage towards the back of
the theatre.
Two seats.
Legroom:
Acceptable as movable chairs are used.
Choosing Seats in General:
Very expensive at top price, for little view. Avoid - easy to do as they
are often not sold to the public - lighting etc is positioned here
instead...
If you do take them, expect to see about a third of the stage without
leaning.
General Hazard Notes:
Angled away from the stage.
Need to lean to see more than a third of the stage.
Lighting and sound equipment may block views / make things noisy.
Changes for the current production:
None.
Reader Comments:
None.
UPPER CIRCLE
Called the "Grand Circle" in this theatre.
Layout:
This is high above the stage, and the rear section feels distant from
it.
The Upper Circle is divided into front and rear sections by an aisle in
front of row F.
The rear three rows are split into two blocks by the architecture. This
means that there are no aisles beside the central seats in rows J, K and L.
Legroom:
Cramped in all seats, worst in row A.
Choosing Seats in General:
Front Section:
Row A is sometimes discounted to allow for the rail in view. If it is,
and you are short, the view is pretty good.
Other seats in this section are mostly about fair value.
Rows A to E seats 1 to 4 and 23 to 26 offer least value for money being at
the edges of the auditorium, so pick B to E 5 to 22 first. Value for money
is fair in the centre seats of these rows.
Rear Section:
Rows F to H seats 1 to 5 and 24 to 28 are at the edges of the circle,
and rows J to L are isolated blocks either side of walls.
Row F's bar may well annoy some people in row G too.
If priced the same as the front section, rows F to J offer poor value in
terms of both view and remoteness from the action.
When better seats are unavailable, accept the sides of row H then G (unless
bars bother you) before J for at least being closer to the front.
Usually, rows K and L have only a little wrong with the value for money,
feels the monkey, but don't expect any miracles. These are often the
cheapest seats in the theatre, and there is a good reason - distance and
view.
On the other hand, if there is a price difference and you are offered only
row J, you may as well save an extra few bananas as the view is fairly
similar. If all seats in the rear circle are at a single price it would skip
them, L in particular, though.
The view in the rear section, as mentioned by the readers, is interrupted by
the bars, and some may well feel that the price (despite being lower than
elsewhere) does not compensate sufficiently
General Hazard Notes:
Metal bars across the front of rows A and F affect views.
Rear section rows are a vertigo inducing distance from the stage for many.
Changes for the current production:
Row A is discounted to the same price as rows F to J. If you are shorter and happy to accept the
legroom issue along with perhaps a rail in view for the absolute shortest
then these are well worth a look.
If willing to pay more, take rows B to E 7 to 20 first, in row order from B back for a decent
and well-priced view (legroom lovers who don't mind missing a bit of the
stage screen projections will find rear stalls or seat M7 in the dress
circle more comfortable, though, for the same price).
The whole rear section is cheaper. Take row A instead first (see above).
Otherwise, just skip row F for another rail; and consider row K over row
J for the same view for £10 less.
At £15 in fact, row K is pretty good value - 12 to 17 first to avoid
some over-upright seats and wall, and even row L is worth a glance for
the impecunious, feels the monkey.
Reader Comments:
"A10: “Legally Blonde” (Mark). The view somewhat shocked me. I thought the
bar would be more of an intrusion than it was - but no, I could see
everything very clearly without leaning forward, although I am quite tall. I
would say for the price it is probably better to sit here than the very back
of the upper circle, and maybe even the very back of the dress circle."
"A12, 13, 14 and 15: "Legally Blonde" (January 2010). Even though these are
"restricted view" seats, the restriction is very small - and if you sit up
straight it doesn't really exist. A12 had a slightly greater restriction
because there was a light or something attached there, but it still wasn't
really problem. You don't feel too far from the stage, I would personally go
for these rather than seats at the same price at the back of the upper
circle, and I actually preferred the view from here than from the back of
the stalls where some of the stage was cut off. Leg room wasn't too bad, not
loads of it but quite standard for upper circle I thought."
"A20: Rail in the view. It's a nice theatre and the seats are ok, sadly a
little bit far away from the stage. You have to be a short person because
the legroom is not really comfortable. It's a necessity to lean forward;
otherwise you will miss the front stage action! It´s so much better to lean
forward. When I was leaning backwards in my seat I found myself very close
to the testis of the Irish man behind me. Not the best way to introduce
yourself. The sound was clear but a little bit too gentle for my taste. The
seat on my left hand side was empty, and the Irish group behind me used it
as a footrest. This is not a living room dudes, this is a theatre, and
nobody wants to sit near stinky feet! If you don't mind sitting in the grand
circle, these seats are a good chance to get a fair deal on a lovely evening
at the Savoy!"
"A25: (Jon). Minimal "rail" intrusion to vision, a slight lean forward to
see total front of stage and the orchestra entombed below. Whilst direct
front legroom is tight, as this is the end seat it gave the opportunity to
swing legs to the left with no problem.”
"Row C: "Legally Blonde”, (Neil). Whilst the seats are high, they offer an
excellent view of the whole stage with adequate leg room, for £35 they offer
great value for money."
“Row D (centre): Found the height above the stage made me feel quite
vertiginous, although the actual view of the stage and all the action was
fine."
"D10: "Legally Blonde" (December 2009), (Luke). The view was great, although
I did feel a little high, but there were people in worse seats then me so I
couldn't really complain."
“Row E: (James). The difference between rows E and F of the Upper Circle is
huge - the theatre design seems to emphasise the distance from the stage.
Rows K and L seem a long long way away. However, would recommend row E
heartily."
“Row G: "Legally Blonde" (December 2009). After sitting in row G I would say
that this row should be a last resort row - and any row in the upper circle
is better than G. There are 2 bars in the way, and I did not appreciate that
it is the bar behind row F which is about 2 metres away that is the huge
problem. Loved “Legally Blonde” but the seats couldn’t have had a much worse
impediment and the theatre ought to offer them free to under 18s."
"J11: (Jon). This is just to the side of the spotlights booth, but wasn't
"tight" ( I'm 20 stone and xxl 5'11"), there was enough room by the right
hand side of this seat next to the booth for not only my coat but also the
couple sat next to me, rather than stuff under the seat. Leg room O.K. (feet
room tighter!). The view is good, but I would question seats 11 in rows
behind and 12 through 15 as you go back, and the front of the stage is
unseen."
"J14 and J15: (Tom). As others have mentioned in their reviews, I think rows
G and H would have serious bar issues as from our seats the bar ran directly
along the edge of the stage, meaning that our view wasn't blocked. Seats in
rows K and L shouldn't also have a problem because the circle is so steep,
meaning a good view for everyone (even though it was pretty high up!) Also,
the seats are staggered so you just peer through the shoulders of the people
in front and don't need to lean! I thought that these seats were very good
value for money - you only pay less because of the height...but even from
where I was sat I could see the actors' facial expressions with no problem
as the theatre doesn't go too far back; plus most of the action takes place
behind where the initial opening curtain is, so you can see clearly without
the need to lean forward! In addition, the sound is very good in these seats
- not loud - but powerful enough for it to have an effect, and the voices
can be heard clearly.
One thing that surprised me was the theatre itself! I thought I would have
to climb loads of stairs to get to "the Gods", but after entering the
theatre at street level and only walking up 2 steps, I was already on the
top floor! So, obviously, it shows how the main auditorium is actually
underground, so it was nice to rest my feet in my seat after walking round
London all morning instead of climbing loads of stairs!"
"K16 and K17: The view seemed quite good. My friend got a bit dizzy but we
were able to move forward to row G which was fine although the bar was a
minor nuisance."
"L1 and 2: "Legally Blonde" (December 2009). These seats cost us £20 each
from TKTS on Leicester Square on the day. I thought they were fair value for
the highest row in the theatre. The row is a short one and L1 and 2 are up
to a wall. You have no problems with people needing to get past you. So this
is good. My husband is 6 foot 4" and usually struggles for leg room, but he
had plenty. I felt a little removed so high up from the action, and think
the sound could need tweaking, but it was OK; and I was pleased we got to
see the show. Don't sit here if you have any fear of heights. It is very
steep and you can touch the ceiling! However, if you want a cheaper night
out or just want to see this show then go for it."
“L2: I would warn that you need oxygen at this level and vertigo sufferers
should stay clear. Otherwise the seat was a good buy - high enough to give a
clear view above the horizontal bars that affect some lower rows. In
addition the sound system is heard to wonderful effect with one's head
against the back wall."
Notes
Total 1157 seats.
Air-conditioned auditorium.
An infrared loop with headsets available. Guide dogs are allowed in
auditorium or dogsat by arrangement. Two wheelchair spaces in the Dress Circle.
Only problem is steep hill outside to push a chair up. The adapted toilet is
nearby. For fuller details, call the box office on 0844 8717 677. 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.
Four bars; Stalls, Lounge, Dress Circle and Upper Circle.
Reader Matt says, in 2010,
"A quick bar tip as well for those in the Stalls -- if you are in the
front of the stalls, far better to use the much quieter Mezzanine Bar
than the main Stalls Bar, both before show and interval! This monkey was
able to walk straight up to the Mezzanine Bar 15 minutes before show
time and get served immediately, in comparison to the three-deep queue
at the main Stalls Bar."
Reader Taljaard, a regular seat commentator on this site says at "The
Sunshine Boys" (May 2012),
"The bars at the Savoy are woeful in size. If you are having drinks in
the interval I would highly recommend you pre order."
The adjacent Savoy Hotel offers the famous Grill and other restaurants. Ice
cream and confectionery only in the auditorium.
7 Toilets; Stalls 1 gents 3 cubicles, 1 ladies 9 cubicles; Dress Circle 1
gents 2 cubicles, 1 ladies 9 cubicles, 1 unisex disabled; Upper Circle 1 gents 5
cubicles 1 ladies 6 cubicles.
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