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 don't mean because it's scary or inappropriate, as they probably just wouldn't comprehend that. It's more that it's really hard to follow the story with no words, and it will be a different story to the one they "know" from the Disney film, and it's pretty boring to sit through a ballet for kids IMO.

We always sit up high when we go to London, take a couple of £ for the opera glasses (binoculars) and you might as well be sat at the front.

Musicals are much more fun!

@Ideasideas have you heard of Kids week (really it's a month) in August children go free to West End shows

Only seen plays and musicals not ballet but I’ve never had a really awful seat that I’ve thought it wasn’t worth going. I love going to the theatre, I go quite often and have paid a lot for some tickets and £20 for others and I don’t think the hugely expensive seats are worth it

Matthew Bourne's productions aren't really what you would describe as ballet in the traditional sense. The dancers are classically trained, but it is far more modern and contemporary in style.

It's more that it's really hard to follow the story with no words, and it will be a different story to the one they "know" from the Disney film, and it's pretty boring to sit through a ballet for kids IMO.

But these are reasons to take them! New experiences develop the brain. Why shouldn’t a child learn how to get the most out of a situation that is different to watching Disney at home? Why shouldn’t they begin to learn how to interpret a story without words? Are people really only offering their children things they’ll find easy and unchallenging?

I’m honestly flabbergasted that anyone could suggest ‘ballet isn’t suitable for kids’.

Quite regularly ballets are streamed live into the cinema, this is a relatively inexpensive way to find out if it’s worth investing in the real McCoy further down the,one. I do understand there’s nothing like a live show but sometimes it’s just not practical or affordable. Also, up you get an amazing, close up view of the dancers themselves - a bit like sitting in the posh seats!

We’ve done the snowman right at the back- we took our then 2yo and wasn’t sure what she’d be like so booked the cheapest seats and near the end in case of a quick get away. It was fine being at the back in the peacock theatre. There are others where paying extra is well worth it. Frozen for example is v far away at the back so have gone for expensive tickets for that.

Also worth keeping an eye out for English national ballet to see if they being back the ‘my first ballets’. Your post has prompted me to have a look and I couldn’t see any upcoming ones but I’m hoping they do them again as I would like to take my girls.

I'm with you here - the experience is totally different. If you just want your children to know and appreciate Disney, then stick with Disney but the live theatre and dance experience is impossible to replicate

That really made me smile! What a lovely idea.

Yes of course! Live theatre can't be beaten

I suspect we may live close to each other as I could have written this. I have also been at least once a month between a few different theatres, always in restricted view cheap seats. It is always worth while and rarely do you miss much. I'd rather see 4 plays/musicals/shows in restricted seats than 1 in the best seats.

I usually book the very front row which is cheaper than the rest of most of the stalls. People don’t like being so close but I love it. You can see the actors so clearly. You just have to be prepared for the orchestra to be really loud!

Yes Matthew bourne is a very different ballet. I really didn't enjoy Cinderella that much. I love traditional classical ballet.

I am a bit of MB fangirl and have seen them all in multiple theatres. Definitely worth seeing live - I would go high up rather than far back. You still get the overall visual spectacle if not not the fine detail. Some of them are definitely not suitable for kids but I think SB is ok - as long as they are not freaked out by vampires!

@Mummadeze , MB doesn't have a live orchestra.

@CakeCrumbs44, Ballet is easily understandable by young children. Mine have gone since they were 7 or 8. Telling stories through movement is something we do from the start.

It certainly does at Sadler's Wells, a very old friend of mine plays in it!

Yes, the last 2 shows I went to I sat on the very back row. It's still worth it.

It’s really not worth it if having poor seats

sorry OP

I disagree - it depends on the theatre. Sadler's Wells works just fine at the back.

Musicals and dance are fine higher up/ further back, they're so visual and a different, not worse, experience from being closer to the front.

Plays I think you benefit from being closer to the stage.

I love Matthew Bourne ballets. Of your suggestion I would go for But racket as their first visit plus Christmassy

Heartily recommend Theatre Monkey for seat reviews

Also not sure if they do it anymore but the Peacock used to do a 241 offer on certain weekday evenings for the Snownan which made it more affordable for me to take my DS when he was younger

@TBOM - interesting! On tour he takes recorded music - or certainly when I've seen him on tour. I assumed it must be true at Sadler's Wells too,