Theatres should stop selling shitty view seats

Definitely agree about doing research before booking. There are some useful websites with seat reviews / photographs, and I always bring up a photograph or plan of the seating (if available) before choosing. It’s a good way of identifying the seats with no-one in front, better legroom, etc.

It does sometimes work the other way. At one London theatre we knowingly bought restricted view seats because we really wanted to see the play. They were in a box at the side, just the two of us, and there was nothing restricted about them at all, other than the need to turn our head, so we were really pleased with them for the price.

Why do they cost so much?
Because theatre is about people and well trained people who give you a great experience are expensive.
Nowadays the vast majority of performers spent at least 3 years training and most of them were in diplomas ( as the degrees are still very new) and so self funded their training.
For along time actors were expected to do it for the love, but now they are standing up and asking to be paid properly.

Now I only go for stalls or circle only, any higher and you’re not going to be able to see anything without peering and moving around.

The seat plan website has photos showing you the view from you seat for many British theatres.

I never buy tickets without checking it

Those seats are ok providing you're not very small (or a child) and the person infront is very tall. Think you hit unlucky.

I've never paid more than£65 for London theatre

I have found that the older theatres have the worst seats, because they were made at a time when people were smaller, perhaps?

The National Theatre is worth checking out not a bad seat in the house.!

What do you think will happen to the cost of theatre tickets if all of the upper circle except the front row aren't sold?

Theatres are extremely expensive to run. Producers sink a hell if a lot of money into ventures and its high risk whether it'll pay off or not. The ticket costs aren't just greediness (but of course they do need to turn a profit).

I have my own personal rules - never book in the upper circle - even for myself and friends, let alone with kids. Always use seatplan and book for the first four or five rows with small children. I can appreciate it would be really disappointing though if you didn't go frequently and found yourself with that view!

I always sit behind that man as well!

I’ve booked these seats 😬. I’m a bit worried now. They were only £30 each which I thought was a good deal.. wondering if I should cancel now.

Borrow a booster cushion and/or complain to the ushers if other patrons are ruining your experience.

Just get a bumper seat. Lots of theatres have them for short people and children. It’s basically like a kids car seat and you put it on your theatre seat to give you a bit more height if you’re small. You can also buy your own and take it with you.

The thing is it's just luck ofvthe draw who you suit behind, what can tall people do? It's a physical aspect of themselves that they can't change.

DH is 6'5" and hardly ever goes to the theatre because of this. We sit at the back usually, but he did once swap seats with a woman who, despite tiered seating, couldn't see over his giant head I think it's right for tall folk to be aware that they might be blocking someone's view and take action.

£300 is insane. I go to the theatre regularly and I don’t pay that. The big West End shows go on tour to regional theatres and tickets are under £100. Small local theatres often have tickets for under £30, and if you go to see an amateur show it’s often as little as £12.

I paid for a front row seat to see Sheridan Smith in Shirley Valentine, and it was a great view but far too close to the stage (Duke of York Theatre) Only £70 as it a a monologue so only one cast member but could have done with sitting a few rows back for sake of my neck.

If someone does that you ask them to sit back.

This site too aviewfrommyseat.co.uk/sports/Theater/

You can use this site to look at photos other people have posted https://seatplan.com/

I would never book seats that high up, I’d rather not go

Not much they can do about tall people though

We went other palace this week. Row C but it looked as if everywhere was great view - and if you look on seatplan I think whole thing was green which never happens! It was very steeply raked so no heads in the way.

I use seat plan before I book anything - have had some great bargains.

Boxes can be good value, they are often sold as restricted and lower price but can still be a good view (just need to lean a little) and the benefit of more space and no one in front of you.

Agree. The Other Palace is great too - my drama student daughter did explain it's a different type of staging... can't remember the name though!

Agree forget the pricing seats by price, go by height.

Shorter people in balcony as they can cope with the legroom. Tall people in the stalls and in height order!

I've stopped going to the theatre as can't afford it, am tall so sitting in balcony is painful, no leg room, back pain etc

BlackBean2023
As someone who is 5ft 1 they should also stop selling seats to people over 5'8. If you're 6 ft you should have sit at the back!
The only thing is the person that’s with them- Then they don’t get to sit with their dh/ relative/friend

I sat in those seats when I went to see Harry Potter. The tickets weren’t that cheap and the seats were massively uncomfortable. It wasn’t even the height, but how squashed they were together! If I’d known, wouldn’t have booked those seats either.

I go to see anything if i can get cheap seats.