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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Old theatres in London not fit for purpose

208 replies

Theatredisappointment · 13/04/2026 13:35

I went to the theatre last week for a birthday treat and now remember why we stopped going.

in the past I have paid hundreds of pounds only to have people in front of me wearing hats and obscuring the view, people wearing huge puffer coats who are about 7 feet tall again obscuring the view. I’ve had people squashed up to me in the next seat making it uncomfortably and impossible to move, as a short person even I noticed the lack of leg room which means people behind you have their legs pushing into the back of your chair constantly.

This time I saved up and purchased a seat in the circle with no one in front of me. Amazing I thought I won’t have to worry about getting a tall person in front of me. Of course I hadn’t anticipated there would be a morbidly obese person behind me. She’d bought 2 seats obviously aware there wasn’t room for anyone next to her but instead my family and I and the person sitting next to me had to endure her body pressing into the back of our seats her stomach was hanging over onto my neck. Every time she moved which was constantly the whole row of seats moved and people were complaining.

It was a horrendous experience. I said nothing to this woman as obviously she couldn’t help it. During the interval I and the lady sat next to me asked a member of staff if we could move, explaining the problem, but were told the theatre was full.

I don’t blame this woman I blame the theatre (The Ambassador) who have squashed as many seats in as possible with zero leg room. They knew she’d booked two seats and would have seen why when they checked her ticket and yet they allowed everyone in seats nearby to suffer.

The whole theatre needs a refit. It’s unacceptable that you pay hundreds of pounds to be put in a tiny seat with zero leg room and the seats aren’t even staggered making it OK for only the tallest people to see the stage! Never again.

OP posts:

Vconcerned1 · 13/04/2026 15:24

LittleMissClutter · 13/04/2026 14:13

If she isn't disabled, she shouldn't be taking up seats for disabled customers.

Show quote history

No, but they may have accessibility needs - therefore making adapted seating a requirement.

ladyamy · 13/04/2026 15:24

Theatredisappointment · 13/04/2026 14:48

dripAmazing how because YOU haven’t experienced it you think it didn’t happen. Were you there? No you weren’t.

At the interval a man around 7 seats down stood up and loudly exclaimed about how one person was making the entire rows seat move.

Whats not to understand? The woman said to her friend/partner “ they’re talking about me” yes he was! I on the other hand sat there in huge discomfort and said not one word to her.

How do you know she wasn’t there?

Foundress · 13/04/2026 15:19

TheChosenTwo · 13/04/2026 14:20

I hear you op and barely ever go to the theatre now (as a non obese person) because it’s often bloody expensive and uncomfortable and whoever is sat in front of me is always the tallest person in the theatre. They can’t help being tall, it’s not something they have any control over, it’s not their problem. But it can make the experience unpleasant and not worth it from my perspective so I’ve just removed myself from the situation now.
Do I recommend you stop going to the theatre? Not really. But it’s what I’ve done.
some that I’ve been to are just cramped and poky, I’m not sitting thinking about the history and beauty of the building, I’m thinking these places are like theme parks and would rather continue to cram more and more people in than there’s comfortably room for in the name of money and at the expense of caring much about consumer experience.
They have their prerogative - I have mine.

I agree. I have done the same. I also hate all the eating and drinking by people while they are sitting in their seats. I went to a virtually empty cinema recently. It’s an old independent one. A woman plonked herself in the seat in front of mine with her hair done up in a gigantic bun on top of her head! My friend and I couldn’t help laughing. We moved to another row. Another woman then came in late and proceeded to drag the coat she was carrying along the back of everyone’s heads in the row in front of her. A lot of people just live in their own bubble with no regard for others.

Oddgain · 13/04/2026 15:18

Theatredisappointment · 13/04/2026 15:04

Well I’m sure this woman did have a good time she was talking about how she was off to see Hamlet the next week. I on the other hand and the people in the row I was in did not have a good time.

How many people does this woman need to trump? Why is ONE woman more important than the several people she caused discomfort to?

I can just imagine your pinched face throughout the theatre. A curled lip of distaste. Like you weee sucking a bitter lemon.

Happy Birthday!

ladyamy · 13/04/2026 15:16

HobnobsChoice · 13/04/2026 14:31

So she booked two seats but the arm rest doesn't move and is in one of the rows with the least legroom. She's in the circle which has steep steps and no lift but uses a walking stick. And was so fat that her stomach touched your neck.

Perhaps she was just a really fat poltergeist and kept stroking your neck to help with the atmosphere

That ticked me 😂😂😂😂

ladyamy · 13/04/2026 15:15

shrodingersvaccine · 13/04/2026 13:50

Sorry, the person behind yous stomach was pressing into your neck? I cannot work out the physics of this... was she also incredibly tall? And how did she deal with the arm rest in the middle of her two seats, they don't tend to raise in theatres?

And did she have no legs?

HoldingInfo · 13/04/2026 15:15

I go every month and always book the aisle seats in the stalls. There is some more space there. I am five 1 and don’t know how taller people cope in the theatre and on planes. Can’t be good for joints.

Then you have the queues for the ladies toilets; the Trafalgar theatre, I am looking at you.

Whilst I like the National, and some of the larger W End theatres like the refurbished Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, I also love the history and atmosphere of the smaller ones. Maybe there is no solution.

I would like people to behave better with their talking, eating, phone use etc. But there is no hope there…

Franpie · 13/04/2026 15:08

Theatredisappointment · 13/04/2026 14:42

She definitely had booked 2 seats and was spilled over onto the second seat.

i spent over £400 for my family and I for a birthday treat. Not quite sure why people are saying im lying. Her stomach was so large it was flapping around my neck and she kept moving forwards saying her knees were in agony. The young woman next to me was visibly distressed because she was also constantly being kicked in her seat.

This was for the entire performance. She kept telling the person she came with how this would put her knees out for weeks. Yes she was talking during the performance and we could all hear her.

For someone about 7 seats down to complain loudly that the entire row moved every time she did should give you an idea about how large this person was. I’m not talking about someone overweight I’m talking seriously obese.

Her stomach was so large it was flapping around my neck

How on earth is that physically possible?? Here is a photo of rows A and B of the Circle section at The Amassador. I can’t figure how how her stomach was anywhere near your neck! Your hyperbole is why PP’s aren’t necessarily in full agreement with you.

Old theatres in London not fit for purpose

peachgreen · 13/04/2026 15:07

I used to be a morbidly obese size 26 and a regular theatre-goer, including to the Ambassadors. It wasn't particularly comfortable, but I didn't "spill over into two seats" (the armrests don't move, anyway, so anyone who would "spill over" just wouldn't be able to sit down!) and I certainly didn't reach the seat in front of me with my stomach! What absolute nonsense.

I'm a size 14 now and very much enjoy my hips not touching the sides of the seats at the theatre. Leg room still leaves a lot to be desired at the older theatres, obviously.

LittleMissClutter · 13/04/2026 15:06

Theatredisappointment · 13/04/2026 14:55

I mean I just assumed she’d booked two seats because the seat next to her was empty in an otherwise full house. There’s no way another person could have sat next to her.

But yes maybe that person didn’t turn up in a way I wish they’d had because the theatre would have had to do something.

Ok so you meant you 'just assumed' but typed "She definitely had booked 2 seats and was spilled over onto the second seat."

Right.

Now think hard, is there anything else in your post you haven't been truthful about?

We'll wait...

Original poster

Theatredisappointment · 13/04/2026 15:04

Well I’m sure this woman did have a good time she was talking about how she was off to see Hamlet the next week. I on the other hand and the people in the row I was in did not have a good time.

How many people does this woman need to trump? Why is ONE woman more important than the several people she caused discomfort to?

OP posts:

AllaMova · 13/04/2026 15:04

The lady booked an extra seat because she was clearly aware of her weight. It is a shame about the fixed arm rests, being able to move the arm rest may have helped a lot. I’m not sure what else you expect her to do given the circumstances. I think she did what she could. She has every right to enjoy the theatre too.

Which theatre was it, OP? It may be a listed building, so a refit may not be possible.

aredrosegrewup · 13/04/2026 15:04

Theatredisappointment · 13/04/2026 14:42

She definitely had booked 2 seats and was spilled over onto the second seat.

This was for the entire performance. She kept telling the person she came with how this would put her knees out for weeks. Yes she was talking during the performance and we could all hear her.

You really don't like fat people do you OP? Do you speak in such degrading terms about any other group of people.

"Spilled over"
"Flapping around my neck"

She's a person, a human with feelings just the same as you. Not a subhuman who has failed morally because of her weight struggles.

Have a word with yourself.

milveycrohn · 13/04/2026 15:03

I think you are partly right. I noticed lack of leg room the last time I went to the theatre, but I assumed this to be because it is an old theatre and people are possibly taller now than in the past. In my view the theatre really needed upgrading and refurbishment to take this into account.
If it is a new theatre or already refurbished, then yes, I would agree that they were trying to rake in the money by squashing in as many poeple as possible.
But I had not noticed this on an earlier occassion I went to the theatre.
However, I hardly go and this is one of the reasons.
Of course, you cannot accuse the theatre if there are unreasonable people around you.

Blimms · 13/04/2026 15:00

Theatredisappointment · 13/04/2026 14:51

This is the weird thing about mumsnet the majority view seems to be oh well get over it. Who cares it was your birthday, who cares you saved up for months for a treat, who cares you were in agony the entire performance, just shut up and put up!!

Everyone I’ve mentioned it too in real life has been nothing but sympathetic and said how unlucky I was. But nope on mumsnet we’re all meant to just put up with things and never complain.

Maybe it was this woman’s birthday, maybe she saved up for months for a treat, maybe she was in agony the entire performance. Why do your needs trump hers?

And no I am not the morbidly obese woman in the theatre. I’m just clarifying as you seem to think that is an appropriate response to someone who disagrees with you.

aredrosegrewup · 13/04/2026 14:58

Freysimo · 13/04/2026 14:48

Being morbidly obese probably is considered a disability for benefits.

Show quote history

Christ, this has taken a turn. Fat = disabled and claiming benefits. You mustn't get out much if you've never seen a fat person at work or in the community.

CautiousLurker2 · 13/04/2026 14:56

Passingthrough123 · 13/04/2026 14:17

This. What OP is describing isn't possible. I've just found a picture of the Ambassador Theatre's seating and you cannot remove armrest. Plus the woman must be 10ft across for her stomach to be spilling over the back of OP's chair and into her neck.

This is clearly a wind-up fat-bashing thread.

Edited

Show quote history

Actually that image is of the old seats that they were offering for sale/disposal in 2022. Cannot find an up today picture of post 2022 (ie, it would suggest, ironically, that the theatre HAS had a recent refit).

curious79 · 13/04/2026 14:55

Pricey though tickets are, theatres aren’t exactly rolling in money.
I think you just need to choose your theatre. I love going to the Barbican and the National, and seeing things in both of those locations as the seats are incredibly comfortable and spacious and well spaced apart.

SlightlyTerrifiedButPolite · 13/04/2026 14:55

I have a joint condition and I find some of these old theatres so painful I sometimes can’t face going if I’m flaring. Getting seated next to just frankly a normal sized man who has no option to expand into your chair and then I suffer from sitting awkwardly. I’m going tonight funnily enough to a concert and don’t feel up to it 🤣

the problem of course is a lot of these places are broke (look up the English national opera eg) so there just isn’t the money to do this

Goldilocks over here understands you completely

Original poster

Theatredisappointment · 13/04/2026 14:55

I mean I just assumed she’d booked two seats because the seat next to her was empty in an otherwise full house. There’s no way another person could have sat next to her.

But yes maybe that person didn’t turn up in a way I wish they’d had because the theatre would have had to do something.

OP posts:

aredrosegrewup · 13/04/2026 14:55

CautiousLurker2 · 13/04/2026 14:30

Actually you SHOULD blame the morbidly obese person. And the prats in hats and the people who do not recognise they are being antisocial by standing, leaning and manspreading. This is about the break down of social norms, courtesy, health. Not fault of the theatre.

So fat and tall people shouldn't leave the house and breach societal norms?

Oddgain · 13/04/2026 14:54

Theatredisappointment · 13/04/2026 14:51

Everyone I’ve mentioned it too in real life has been nothing but sympathetic and said how unlucky I was. But nope on mumsnet we’re all meant to just put up with things and never complain.

How many people in Rl have you wanged on about this??!

DripDripAprilshower · 13/04/2026 14:54

At the interval a man around 7 seats down stood up and loudly exclaimed about how one person was making the entire rows seat move.

🤣🤣🤣🤣

viques · 13/04/2026 14:53

I’m not sure how buying two tickets in a standard theatre would solve this issue. In my experience unless the seating is bench style, as it is in some theatre like The Globe, buying two seats separated by an arm rest isn’t really going to provide extra room for a larger person.

LittleMissClutter · 13/04/2026 14:53

She definitely had booked 2 seats and was spilled over onto the second seat.

How do you know she definitely booked 2 seats and that the person who'd booked next to her, just didn't show up?

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