Old theatres in London not fit for purpose

I’m with you OP! Some of the old theatres are so cramped that you can’t see much h less you fork out a fortune for the most expensive tickets.
went to a show and had a really tall man sit right in front of me, his giant head obscured two thirds of the stage! And he was clearly uncomfortable, squirming and moving constantly.
I’ve started to lean towards going to theatres like the National where you have a decent view from every seat.

How did the lady behind you sit in the two seats?
There's an arm rest between them.
She wouldn't have sat on top of that, would she?

I find that the cramped seating at the old London theatres and the fact that the whole row shakes when anyone moves around really takes me out of the experience. It wasn't until I finally went to the National and the Barbican that I realised it's a West End thing and not just part and parcel of the experience of going to the theatre.

Oh this thread restores my faith in people, you are a delight 🫶♥️

People buy extra seats so that don’t get people whinging at them about invading their space..

Hang on, so you got a free neck pillow for the duration of the show and youre still whining?

I think we need a diagram 😂

Some people just need to establish a pecking order, shame isn’t it. Could easily have said the seats are so close together you end up with people’s knees in the back of your chair….easier to be unpleasant

Exactly what I was thinking

I’ve been in the circle of an old theatre and felt it shake when a group of very tall and quite large people ( I think they were a family) came and sat down. It made me wonder what the total weight being held up is now compared to 150 years ago.

I hate the cramped conditions in some theatres and it definitely puts me off going. DP is fairly tall and has back problems and a night at the theatre can throw his back out for a week or two. I do sympathise in that you spent a lot of money and had a horrible experience. But I don’t think you’ve done yourself any favours with your description of the woman behind you. Your tone is very disapproving of her, even though you claim to think it’s not her fault. There is also plenty of evidence in your comments of a general tendency to exaggerate, so it’s hard to believe that your description isn’t a bit OTT for effect.

You sound like a laugh.

I always wonder how ye olden days folk managed in their hooped skirts and top hats - or maybe the balcony seats were for the working classes?

There aren’t “disabled areas”. Some rows have one less seat so a wheelchair can tuck on the end, but that’s it.

😅

Much Ado About Nothing.

I don’t find the theatres uncomfortable but then I’m 5’3 and small. I can imagine it’s much tougher on larger taller people.

I do worry quite a lot about fire risks. Some of those theatres are real rabbit warrens and semi underground, I cannot imagine everyone getting out in the event of a fire.

But what is the solution? if we insisted on modern standards for comfort and safety it would cut the number of theatres in London drastically. Basically London theatre would be decimated. We can’t build a whole load of new theatres overnight and it would be very hard to find a new purpose for the decommissioned old theatres, so they’d end up being demolished (at least inside).

In short I see the issues but I don’t see a clear solution.

Oh, do you know the woman? That's helpful. Can you tell us more?

You seem to know a lot about overweight people and how all morbidly obese people are disabled due to their morbid obesity. Could you share the research with us?

Also a 7 foot person in a puffa coat??? having said that I dislike going to my local old and beautiful theatre because its so cramped and awkward, actually my back and knee won't allow it any more.

I agree that a lot of the old theatres in London are very uncomfortable - they were built at a time when people were generally smaller. I dont go to them for that reason unless I can get a box with friends. And it is a shame your special night out was spoiled - it was a very unusual situation even for an old theatre. Can you reframe it in your mind so you can laugh about it in the future?

I always manage to get seated in front of whisperers, chewers, tin rattlers, and next to people with weak bladders who insist on climbing over me at least twice during the first and second acts

I hear you OP, I also get annoyed by inconsiderate and anti-social behaviour by fellow theatre-goers.
For example, we recently attended a performance where a woman who was sat near us spent the whole time theatrically sighing and tutting and throwing nasty glances at the poor woman behind her who was just minding her own business, just really bad manners all round if you ask me.
Actually, hang on...

Sge's very disabled as a result of being morbidly obese.

Yeah, saw a play at the Apollo last week, had seats at the front of the stalls and it was cramped, especially with a manspreader the other side of me.

I also book stalls and aisles. You seem to get more room that way.