Is it worth going to the theatre to watch the ballet / a musical if you're right at the back?

[Ideasideas]

I don't have much spare money at the moment but would love to take my girls to see Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty at Sadler's Wells Theatre, and The Snowman at Peacock Theatre.

I can only afford for us to sit at the back. Is it worth going?

I’d say not to be honest. I haven’t enjoyed such shows myself.

How old are your children? Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty is not what you'd think of as being the normal fairytale story. It has some quite dark themes.

I remember going to Sadlers Wells when I was a child, I’m 40 now. Yes, I think it’s worth it. You genuinely don’t have to be up close to enjoy ballet in particular- not sure about musicals but I suspect not for them either.

I'd just pick one show and get the better seats if possible. I think particularly with ballet it's important to see the finer detail and foot movement.

The theatre on my local city does £13 tickets for the the "worst" seats. I've been to the theatre twelve times this year for a similar price I'd pay for a cinema ticket. Not once has the view ruined my day. Give it a try.

I saw something at Sadlers Wells at the back, and I had a decent view. I see a lot of musicals sitting in the Upper Circle, and I enjoy them too. Pre DD I went to the theatre a lot, and I could only afford to go so much, sitting in the shit seats, but I never felt short changed.

Yes, of course!

There’s so much more to a live event than proximity to the stage. Atmosphere and anticipation and the dance of being part of an audience.

And each experience builds on the last. Take them as often as you can.

Yes it’s worth it.
go to the site THEATRE MONKEY and you will find every London theatre and reviews of different seats and the best value in each price bracket.

When you’re far back, you won’t see facial expressions and it’s not the same as being in the front of the stalls but you’ve probably paid 10-15% of the price of those tickets. You can still see and enjoy in most theatres. The Snowman and the PEACOCK isn’t a huge theatre and there aren’t big pillars. The Colliseum is a big theatre. Look at seating plans to see how far back the grand circle goes and satch out for restricted views.

Personally, we always go for cheap seats. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t go. I can’t think of any shows I wish I hadn’t bothered with due to seats.

It can be worth considering slip seats if any are available. Often they are closer but seated sideways. You can get some brilliant views, if slightly restricted.

OP visit seatplan.com and check out the view photos from the seats you might be in. Some theatres cheap seats are fine, others awful. Seatolan has photos from patrons in the seats, so not zoomed in venue ones, gives you a really good feel. And you can upload yours afterwards to further help!

It's absolutely fine. You're only a few feet from the front of the balcony really. There's just lots of people in the way.

Agree that the Bourne ballet probably isn't suitable for young kids. Better off with The Nutcracker.

I agree that often you can go for the price of a cinema ticket. That’s a full cast and the band or even a full orchestra. It’s brilliant.

And yes to going as often as you can so your kids become theatre lovers. Don’t make a big thing about the particular seats to them….no apologising for cheaper seats. They are lucky to go and have a lovely day out.

I always sit in the cheapest seat in london theatres! Just check seats aren’t behind a column. There’s a website called Seat Plan which shows the view from specific seats.
You don’t mention your girls ages but that version of sleeping beauty is quite adult

I wouldn't. We only usually go if we can get good seats but we decided the ones right around the outer edge of the upper circle would be acceptable for School Of Rock. They were rubbish. It really ruined the experience for me.

Yes, Nutcracker and Coliseum is often very good value.

I'd recommend The Nutcracker as opposed to Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty as PP has said it is a bit dark.

Also recommend A Christmas Carol which I have seen performed by two different ballet company's - Northern Ballet and Ballet Theatre UK - Peter Pan by Northern was also very good

One of the things I loved most about MB’s sleeping beauty, was the lighting and set design. Very good even from the back seats. But it depends on the price I guess. Theatre/ballet/ opera is prohibitively expensive in the Uk, it’s so elitist and sad.

How old are they? Ballet isn't really suitable for kids. The Little Mermaid ballet played recently at our local theater and lots of people took their 5/6/7 year olds and then complained that it wasn't the same as the Disney film and their kids didn't understand it.

How big is the theatre is the obvious question here.

I saw a ballet and sat in the third row from front, and it was shit, because we were too close and couldn't see their feet! Sat half way back next time, and it was much better. (Theatre that sat 3500 people.)

Sat in the NIA 90% of the way back watching an emo band, and couldn't see shit.

Really REALLY depends how big the theatre is.

I’d also add that I took a few children to SB. The dark themes went right over their heads but they were all far more interested in the sweets we’d brought rather than the ballet. Second the nutcracker suggestion.

Yes yes YES!
I've been to Sadler's Wells often, and yes it's definitely worth sitting at the back rather than not going or seeing it on DVD. The live performace, the experience of sharing it with a full audience, maybe seeing the dancers come out the stage door... Such a magnificent experience.

However, Bourne's Sleeping Beauty has a few adult themes, so if your daughters are little, I'd pick something else.

(did you know there's a DVD of his Nutcracker? It's fantastic, although live is better)

Definitely! I can never afford the expensive tickets, but 15 year old DD and I love theatre, musicals especially, so we will buy the £13-20 tickets, right at the back of the upper circle. It means we can afford to see maybe 3 shows a year, otherwise we probably wouldn't be able to. I'd certainly go for it!

Of course it's worth it.

I take DD to the west end a lot, she's seen 13 shows this year (plays and musicals, some with me, some with GM) and I always buy the cheap seats and very often the restricted view seats. The worst seats we had were for the Glass Menagerie but we could still see most of the action.

DD is a musical theatre nut (and a performer herself). I feel building cultural appreciation is so important if you can (and that's West end, or your local library plays whatever you can manage). Anything you can expose your children to is for the better.

I grew up in a very different financial position but my parents and my comprehensive school exposed me to as much theatre and art as possible and my life was enhanced.

I should add, of those 13 shows they all got paid for by Xmas and birthday money!

Thank you for the replies and website suggestions - I'll check those out now! I think I'll go ahead and book some back seat tickets, better than not going at all I guess! I don't want my DC to miss out just because I can't afford the better seats and yes the atmosphere and being part of the audience is always amazing regardless of seating position.

I did read that MB's sleeping beauty was a little dark... my DC are 7. I did see that it's resticited for under 5s and I found a review of someone who took their 5 and 6 year olds who both loved it apparently. I'm not so sure now! Do you think it comes down to how children might react individually, or that all children should avoid it?

We often sit up in the gods. It's never spoilt the performance for us.