Arts Theatre

"Row BB: "Ghost Stories" (June 2014). Front row. The row is close to the stage and half way through there is a slight obstruction but it’s minor."

"Row BB: "Ushers: The Front of House Musical" (September 2015). If you like lovely actors in your face then house left is best!"

"BB1 to 3: "The Choir of Man" (September 2023). Front row, high stage so constantly looking up. For 'Choir of Man' this was OK, which was why I chose it, but I wouldn’t sit here for a play as I don’t think you’d get a good perspective of the scenes. You are very close to the action and looking at people’s feet on stage. On the end of a row, just about OK leg room, be prepared to catch a few splashes of beer every so often!"

"BB4: “Bonnie & Clyde” (April 2022). Front row, perfect view. The floor of the stage was just below my eye line which meant that there was no neck craning required. Unfortunately the advantages of being extra tall were cancelled out by the legroom - not overly bad but not much room to move - severe knee lock meant agony before the end of each act!"

"BB7: "Beautiful Thing" (May 2013). Bought for £24.50. As it states when you are booking your ticket, the view is restricted as the stage is raised. Compared to the Savoy Theatre's raised stage, this wasn't too bad as the stage is built up with steps and many of the actors will perform from these steps. At times, it almost feels like they are performing solely to you. On the odd occasion people's legs will be out of view and the neck-craning can get a bit annoying at times, but if you're anything like me and you love being as close to the stage as possible then these seats are for you. I would be a bit more cautious about booking seats on either far side of row BB - these usually sell last out of this row and it's easy to see why. I sensed that a lot of action would be missed from sitting in these seats."

"BB 7 and 8: "American Idiot" (July 2015). The most amazing seats...seen as the cheap seats because of high stage (restricted view). We thought you have to be kidding (but we liked the ticket price so not complaining!!) we loved the fan girls seats - all the action happening right in front of this ;-) I want to go again and would have to sit in those seats again!!"

"BB11 and 12: "Park Avenue Cat" (July 2011). I was tempted by an email that offered 'Best Seats for only £15' and booked blind. Foolishly I didn't check their location before we went. These were the WORST seats I've ever had in my life, in any theatre, anywhere. The row was squashed in front of the stage, and although we had leg room, we had to crook our necks and lean backwards to see the actors on stage. However, we got a good view up the female actors' skirts. Younger members of the audience in BB appeared to be able to maintain this awkward pose better than my husband and I - being in our late forties we have to be a bit more careful and had to keep looking downwards at our toes to rest our poor necks. An extremely uncomfortable experience. Strongly recommend that Theatremonkey never goes for these seats, even though he is probably a bit more bendy than we humans."

A 3 and 4: "Murder Ballad" (October 2016). Originally was sold Circle F1&2 for £12.50 each, on the night of the show was upgraded to Stalls F3 and 4. The stage is very high for this production so take from row D or so back, to see the floor which is important for this show. Also I wouldn't want to be any further to the right as you will miss action in the far right corner of the stage."

"A8: "Murder Ballad" (October 2016). Got it for £15 at 3pm yesterday afternoon (6th October 2016) for the evening's performance. Stage is even higher than usual at the Arts for this production by about 8-10 inches, meaning anyone unlucky enough to be in row BB can't see a thing - the stage will be several inches higher than anybody sitting there. A8 was equally poor, so I asked to be moved, and the (very rude) box office begrudgingly moved me to B17. Didn't see this was such an issue as the house was so empty. Being an extra row back helped matters a little, but floor level action further back than the front fifth of the stage is still invisible - and a lot of the action is viewed through a chair unnecessarily placed in the downstage right corner. (Same problem for those sitting downstage left side). I'd say you won't get a decent uninterrupted (and neck-friendly) view for this show until at least row F of the stalls."

"A9: "Six" (January 2019). This is the second row for this particular show, and 9 is relatively central. So an amazing view for the most part, with the six queens making direct eye contact regularly. However, I think it was this seat that they seemed to have focussed all the back of stage lighting on, I was regularly absolutely blinded! Also expect to be deafened, both from the music on stage, and from the full audience behind you!"

"A9: "Simon Callow in A Christmas Carol" (December 2018). Excellent view as front row not in use. Very central and close to the stage. The theatre did feel very cold though [perhaps to keep Simon Callow cool in his energetic acting]."

"A10: "The Wipers Times" (October 2018). I had not been to the Arts Theatre before which was tiny and quite shabby. My seat A10 was very central with an excellent view."

"B1: Would definitely go for something more central if I could have chosen. Still had a good view though, although felt a bit disconnected from the action by being right at the side."

"B1: "Judy" (June 2017). A good seat with a clear view and plenty of leg room. It may be a problem if there is a lot of action on the right hand side, as it is slightly cut off."

"B1 to 4: ('Eve Ferret Sings Again!' in 2011). Seats were right at one side of the theatre and quite close to the stage but with a good view of all but the very nearside of the stage. None of these facts were an issue for this particular show (a cabaret) but might well be an issue with another show such as a play."

"B11: Seat was SO creaky I had to move to the empty one next to me. It was creaking like no theatre seat has ever creaked before. Avoid this seat. View from 1 along was very good and squeak free."

"B17: "American Idiot" (September 2016). The theatre is small. You would want a premium seat for this show, as it's on the split level, so the overhang would cut your view. B row is the third row back, any nearer the stage and you would be craning your neck a bit. The bonus of this seat is it's right be the stage steps, so plenty of room and no-one sitting in front of you. I had to sit at a slight angle, but it wasn't uncomfortable. I missed some bits that took place on one side of the stage (writing on a blackboard), but to be honest that was more bad staging than the fault of the seat position."

"Row C: (Mark, regular contributor). centre - Good clear view of the stage."

"D9: (Mark, regular contributor). for 'Naked Boys Singing' it's certainly close enough to see everything, put it that way."

"F5: "The Toxic Avenger" (October 2017), (Mark, regular contributor). Good clear view. And no more uncomfortable than the usual terrible standard at the Arts."

"F5 and 6 were as good as they get in this small venue."

"F8: "The Tailor-Made Man" (February 2013). Great view."

"G1: “Bonnie & Clyde” (April 2022). Excellent view and good legroom. Seat is a little more in than the other rows due to a pillar. Would sit here again for sure!"

"G3 "The Toxic Avenger The Musical" (October 2017). This seat was a bargain at £20.00,originally £39.50, as it was near the side, making it easy to get in and out, but it also gave a good clear view of the stage. Leg room at the Arts Theatre is adequate, but you always have to stand up to let people in. Seats are generally comfortable. The stage is high, so that although the raking of the seats is not great, most seats seats provide a good view of the stage."

"G12 and 13: "A Guide To Sexual Misery" (September 2010), (Clive). A perfect view with good legroom. There is a good chance of being required to move seats for the second half of this show."

"H10 to 13: "Park Avenue Cat" (July 2011), (Clive). Excellent seats – very good view of the stage with good rake and good leg-room."

"H12 and H13: "A Dish of Tea With Doctor Johnson" (September 2011), (Laura). Ended up sitting next to the play's director Max Stafford-Clark, (who was lovely by the way!). The seats themselves gave an excellent view of the action being right in the centre and just in front of the overhang from the dress circle, although legroom was a little cramped - we're 5'2" and 5'3" and we struggled slightly. I'm not sure I'd have paid top price for the seat but if you can get them cheaply then they're a fair value in my opinion."

"J1 and 2: "Six" (January 2019), (Bob Pickett). These seats are sold as ‘restricted view’. The only way anything would be lost was if it appeared in the top right-hand corner of the stage. They’re nicely close to the front, as said previously the sightline is not affected one iota by the pillar. They are comfortable with sufficient leg room. If you are offered these at reduced prices, snap them up."

"J17 and 18: "Six" (January 2019), (Bob Pickett). J18 has a (slightly) restricted view behind a pillar. For Six, when the Queens are lined up at the start, you lose Katherine of Aragon. For most of the time this isn't an issue, as the bulk of the action is centre stage. J17 has no such issues. Both great value at a reduced price, but go for J1 and J2 if available."

“L1: “The Choir of Man” (September 2021), (Broadway John). Good legroom and view. Only missed the right side wall of the set. Happy to sit here again!”

"L10: "American Idiot" (July 2015). This is a hit and miss seat .. I'd got it at a discount so couldn't complain. There is little drop from row L to K in front and there is no offsetting of seats at all, so if you get someone of even average height in front, your view is quite blocked. At the very last moment before the show started, I got a tall man with a ponytail so lost around one sixth of the stage - the central part. Fortunately 'American Idiot' uses split level stage so managed to see a good percentage. Pay full price for this row and you take a big risk ..."

"Row M: "The Toxic Avenger" (October 2017). My ticket was in row M at the back, where there was plenty of leg room. However, if I'd stayed there the view of at least some of the action on the upper level of the set would have been blocked by the overhanging circle. Thankfully ticket sales appear to not be doing well so there were plenty of empty seats further forward. I moved to row F where the view was much better, although I was a bit surprised that going from almost the cheapest to the most expensive seats meant I got less leg room. It was still sufficient though. Taller visitors should avoid the rear three or four rows in the stalls."

"M2: "Ian McKellen" (February 2019). Very near the back of the stalls. Good view of the stage and able to hear well. This seat is near the end of the row so it feels more spacious than having a seat struck in the middle."

"M8: "Ian McKellen" (February 2019). I moved from M2 to M8 for second half [to help people who wanted to leave for train] and actually the view was less clear and I felt there was very little space in the middle of the row. This theatre feels very cramped especially with the low overhang of circle."

"M12: "Ruthless! The Musical! (March 2018). Right at the back in the corner but no matter. The Arts Theatre is so small that I had a perfect view, and the rake is good so that even when a very tall lady with a Ken Dodd hairstyle sat in front of me, I could still see everything. The seats themselves are old and tired and look like they're held together by the power of prayer and parcel tape so not very comfortable but leg room fine."

"Row N: Great leg room and perfect unobstructed view, has a good rake. Very hot, though. Now the bad points: during the play, 8 times the entrance/exit door - the only one to theatre - was opened and let the hallway light into the auditorium. Not only that, but they appear to have a bar/club directly behind a locked single layer door. I could hear crowds singing "my sex is on fire" more than what was said on stage. It really is appalling sound proofing, surely they could have better - and a curtain over the door! It really did spoil our night."

“N1: “Bonnie & Clyde” (April 2022). Very cramped seat. Decent legroom. Seats aren't offset so I was looking directly at the persons head in front of me. Was able to look around them most of the time so I could still see pretty much everything. Also, directly under a vent so freezing cold.”

"N10: “Bonnie & Clyde” (April 2022). Seating isn’t staggered with the rows in front, and there isn’t much of a rake, so if the person in front of you is taller than you, you will miss about 1/3 of the action. On the plus side, it is the back row so you can sit without putting the seat down, so you can see above all heads without blocking anyone, but it is uncomfortable doing it."

"N 14: "Mischief Movie Night" (December 2017): This seat is right at the back of the stalls, but it has an excellent view of the stage and has the advantage of being on an aisle. Always an advantage in the interval. This is the first time I have sat there , but certainly the seat I will always choose in future. A bargain at £19.00, in the Official London Theatre Flash Sale, which is slightly less than on sale at the theatre. The leg room is good and the seats very comfortable. One warning about this theatre the toilets downstairs are terrible, as they are very, very squashed. However upstairs in the circle there is a unisex disabled toilet, which is available to anybody to use."