Theatres should stop selling shitty view seats

We go to the theatre in London quite often. I always buy the cheapest seats in the knowledge that it is going to be a mixed bag in terms of viewing.

As a general principle the more modern the theatre the better the view in the cheapest seats. Also signing up to email lists like London Theatre and Today Tix gives you the heads up on new things going on sale before the hype has started.

Obvious this isn't as relevant if you are going to a big long running show like Harry Potter but generally beginning/ mid week and far in advance as possible gives you the best cheap seats.

For Cursed Child it was basically go to the box office on the day or enter Friday 40.

We also go for rush or lottery tickets on Todaytix.
We are goibg to see Operation Mincemeat for £25 with lottery tickets.
Google papering the house tickets or seat fillers like Central tickets.
DD is also NHS si get Tickets For Good .
Also the is a Theatre Roulette for £25 on Todaytix.

I used to go to the theatre a lot, at least once a month. I now only go and see a few shows a year as it’s too expensive. I don’t want to risk a massive head in front of me when I have paid a fortune. Having said that, there are some theatres who have better seating, mainly the newer ones I think.

The last time I went to the theatre the person next to me absolutely reeked of smoke. I am absolutely not a MN super sniffer who can tell how many hours ago someone had a shower, but this was pretty overwhelming....but I don't think there are any rules you could implement about that! 🤣 obviously it didn't spoil the show but was very noticeable.

(It's possibly more apparent because a lot fewer people do smoke now)

I wish they would remind theatre goers to sit back in their seats

This!

We went recently and I was sitting behind a very tall chap who sat forward in his seat the entire show :(

We went to see Wicked and the man in front of DH had the biggest head ever. The phrase Mr Buffalohead was coined.

Hope you managed to enjoy it a little bit.

I wish they would remind theatre goers to sit back in their seats along with the mobile phone reminders. I don't think some people realise how much it impacts the view of the person behind them when they lean forward.

Glad your son enjoyed it though. He sounds like a lovely, appreciative boy!

The seats at the back are awful. ck row first time we saw it and really struggled to see.
Ive also been in front row when we won Friday 40 tickets. My dd and her friends became obsessed and new how to get good last minute tickets at more reasonable price.

Nit-guy is on his phone, as is the person beside him?

That would irritate me as much as the king size view of his big head.

We went to MK a while ago and got better seats than we would for the same price in the west end. I'm thinking of booking to go again next year

I do love going to a London theatre for the atmosphere - a very rare treat due to costs, though. I think a great view can be had though at Milton Keynes theatre. We saw the travelling production of Chicago there and the theatre has been designed to maximise visibility from all seats. They do get some of the travelling shows from the West End, and that can be good value.

I am.conflicted on the subject, I definitely feel your pain as I am less than 5ft so frequently need to lean or try to peer past the person in front of me. And theatre tickets are expensive.

However whenever I go to a theatre I often notice the nature of the building and wonder about its maintenance costs (some of them are very old and ornate) and then the cost of the set itself (Moulin Rouge for example) and then the vast amount of people working at the theatre.
And that does explain why tickets are expensive....but obviously that doesn't make them more affordable!

Real pain when something like this happens, unfortunately, no matter how much or little you pay, if you get someone, can we say, large, infront of you, it restricts the view, most annoying at shows aimed at kids when adults have seats directly in front of your children and won’t move around so there children are in front instead

I've always felt that all theatres should be built on much more of a slant than they are so everyone can actually see the stage properly. Especially when tix are so incredibly expensive and a major treat for many.

Best seats I had was at the Bridge Theatre to see Guys n Dolls - mainly because we were in the stalls where you are part of the staging and move around with the actors as makeshift podiums pop up and down. We also sat at the little cafe seats they have for some of the scenes. Don’t suppose I’ll get such great seats at another production.

A few years ago I paid £200 for the Royal Opera House to see Swan Lake, and the woman in front leaned forward to sort of loll with her elbows resting on her knees - this left her head obliterating much of the stage for me.

I asked her to return to the upright!

It's pot luck who sits in front of you and if it's a big guy then it's tough luck. Booking the front row of the circle isn't always best as the rail is often in your direct line of sight!

I feel your pain OP, and decided a long time ago to only buy first or second row of the circle. (Or the front of the stalls depending on the layout - don’t like looking up at a stage).

I’d rather go fewer times with great seats than many visits watching the back of a man’s head.

I had to pay £295 each for good seats to Cabaret.

But we also have good local theatres near us though which is smaller and less expensive.

Ouch @Icantseebecauseofyou £100 for the balcony! What was the show? We paid £20 to see David Tennant in Good tho we were standing tbf. Could see tho - but long way up

lol at big man plus man bun 😂😂

It’s the luck of the draw, you can still book really good seats and have someone in front of you that ruins it.

I once had a huge women in front of me so I couldn’t even look around her.

When we go as a family we now book 2 in front and 2 behind so we can make sure the kids always see. Plus a seat on the end/

or a box! Boxes are the best

That's awful, OP.

I'd email customer services at the theatre and ask for a refund. It's worth a try.