Theatres should stop selling shitty view seats

[Icantseebecauseofyou]

I took my son to the theatre today, we were both so looking forward to it but I can't help feeling that the view was so shit that I've basically paid to see if the guy in front of had nits or not?

The seats were expensive so it was definitely a big treat for us, but still, it was a bit shit.

Why do theatres cost so much? Especially when seats have rigging, barriers etc across the view? Why do seat on the floor cost £300 each then we get people asking why people don't go to the theatre more?

If they are going to sell shitty view seats then they should take a picture from each seat to show this is the shitty view you'll get with all the rigging included and maybe a big fat head in the view too so you know that, actually, it's not worth paying £££ for these crappy view seats?
If I'd seen this photo first, I wouldn't have paid for this seat.

I'm a regular London theatre goer and I always Google the seat view before booking.

Could you maybe try that?

Photo because it didn't attach to original post.

Doesn't help me now but I certainly will in future or just save up for longer!

Which theatre is this? And did you book direct? A lot of theatres have a seat view function when you book. Alternatively Seat Planner is a good website to use.

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!

I always google the seat view and try to book an aisle seat now

Yeah try seatmonkey.
i go a lot and rarely pay more than £60 -
i find if there is an obstruction it hurts a lot less than when I pay double!

The site I use is called Seatplan.

People put photos and reviews on there. I always feel guilty because I tend to forget to leave reviews myself. Must remember next time.

This is the palace theatre.

I thought I'd done lots of research on the place, what I failed to research is the size of guy in front of us head size!!
My son, bless him, was good about it, he knew it was a big treat, but I couldn't help feeling like this was really shit!

Ah, were you Balcony? It is notoriously crap up there.

Yep, especially when big head and big shoulders sat next to him lean forward to rest on the barrier like there's no one behind them!

Can very much recommend the new soho place theatre. We watched Heather's and ot wad amazing

But I do wonder why theatres sell these shit view seats in the first place?
I'm aware it's an old building etc but if you're having to sway side to side, duck and weave to see the stage then it's not a show you're paying for, it's just a live audio?

Bizarrely, I've booked restricted vision tickets three times and actually found them better than some of the seats I've had normally. Not reduced either.

And God forbid what the poor gits behind me felt like! I do hope all my bobbing and weaving didn't impact their experience 🙈

Feel a bit cringe now.

So glad I saved for ages to feel like this 🙄

Looks like you were in ‘the Gods’ - the very top balcony. They’re awful. In our local big theatre they charge a low flat rate for those seats, but I noticed when I went to a show in London last year, that those seats were pretty expensive still.

This is part of why I don’t go to the theatre any more. I’m short so I always have someone taller in front of me - plus the seats are so bloody squashed in, there are never enough loos and it costs a fortune.

I love Sohoplace and have seen 3 productions there, views are great. New theatres are much better for seats.

I

Much better for seats, but not so good for having anything on that I want to see!

The view might be decent, but the leg room was dire (and don't get me started on the queues to get out)

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

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.

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

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

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!

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.