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.

You can use this site to look at photos other people have posted https://seatplan.com/

I would never book seats that high up, I’d rather not go

Not much they can do about tall people though

This site too aviewfrommyseat.co.uk/sports/Theater/

If someone does that you ask them to sit back.

I paid for a front row seat to see Sheridan Smith in Shirley Valentine, and it was a great view but far too close to the stage (Duke of York Theatre) Only £70 as it a a monologue so only one cast member but could have done with sitting a few rows back for sake of my neck.

£300 is insane. I go to the theatre regularly and I don’t pay that. The big West End shows go on tour to regional theatres and tickets are under £100. Small local theatres often have tickets for under £30, and if you go to see an amateur show it’s often as little as £12.

DH is 6'5" and hardly ever goes to the theatre because of this. We sit at the back usually, but he did once swap seats with a woman who, despite tiered seating, couldn't see over his giant head I think it's right for tall folk to be aware that they might be blocking someone's view and take action.

The thing is it's just luck ofvthe draw who you suit behind, what can tall people do? It's a physical aspect of themselves that they can't change.

Just get a bumper seat. Lots of theatres have them for short people and children. It’s basically like a kids car seat and you put it on your theatre seat to give you a bit more height if you’re small. You can also buy your own and take it with you.

I did but still wasn't the greatest view.

Borrow a booster cushion and/or complain to the ushers if other patrons are ruining your experience.

I’ve booked these seats 😬. I’m a bit worried now. They were only £30 each which I thought was a good deal.. wondering if I should cancel now.

I always sit behind that man as well!

What do you think will happen to the cost of theatre tickets if all of the upper circle except the front row aren't sold?

Theatres are extremely expensive to run. Producers sink a hell if a lot of money into ventures and its high risk whether it'll pay off or not. The ticket costs aren't just greediness (but of course they do need to turn a profit).

I have my own personal rules - never book in the upper circle - even for myself and friends, let alone with kids. Always use seatplan and book for the first four or five rows with small children. I can appreciate it would be really disappointing though if you didn't go frequently and found yourself with that view!

I have found that the older theatres have the worst seats, because they were made at a time when people were smaller, perhaps?

The National Theatre is worth checking out not a bad seat in the house.!

Those seats are ok providing you're not very small (or a child) and the person infront is very tall. Think you hit unlucky.

I've never paid more than£65 for London theatre

The seat plan website has photos showing you the view from you seat for many British theatres.

I never buy tickets without checking it

Now I only go for stalls or circle only, any higher and you’re not going to be able to see anything without peering and moving around.

Why do they cost so much?
Because theatre is about people and well trained people who give you a great experience are expensive.
Nowadays the vast majority of performers spent at least 3 years training and most of them were in diplomas ( as the degrees are still very new) and so self funded their training.
For along time actors were expected to do it for the love, but now they are standing up and asking to be paid properly.

Definitely agree about doing research before booking. There are some useful websites with seat reviews / photographs, and I always bring up a photograph or plan of the seating (if available) before choosing. It’s a good way of identifying the seats with no-one in front, better legroom, etc.

It does sometimes work the other way. At one London theatre we knowingly bought restricted view seats because we really wanted to see the play. They were in a box at the side, just the two of us, and there was nothing restricted about them at all, other than the need to turn our head, so we were really pleased with them for the price.

Palace theatre Manchester has a seat view option when you book.
I agree it’s SO expensive. I want to take my kids to see the lion king and wicked but I just can’t afford £80+ per person. Managed to get excellent seats for Aladdin for £40 each in the stalls but even up in the gods the seats are over £80 for the lion king at the same theatre same day of the week same time slot. There is such a wide difference in price for the shows and many will be unaffordable for the majority

Theatres should identify before buying if the seat has a restricted view such as a pillar or piece of equipment. However I find a lot of the trouble is with the older London theatres - the seating just doesn't have a sufficient rake. The more recently built theatres often have much better views. You can see from any seat on our local theatre, even with a taller person in front of you.

The Other Palace main theatre is like a little amphithratre, with the stage at the bottom and very steep rake.
I went to see Babies there a couple of weeks back, great new musical, lots of fun but i also cried.

I took DD to see Six at the Vaudeville earlier in the year. We were in the top section, I'd googled the view and it was fine. However, the person in front of me kept leaning forwards stopping me from seeing, it was fine when she was sat back.
I much prefer newer theatres as the view is usually better and there's more space. A friend and I saw The Breeders at The Troxy in East London (an old venue) earlier in the week, the 3 seats in front of us were empty so we had a brilliant view!

Like everyone else says, view from my seat site.

Restricted view is usually flagged by the theatre and can sometimes be a bargain. We got ace dress circle slips (side seats) for Les Mis once. No good for a 6ft/er tho.

@Icantseebecauseofyou if you were in the balcony then that was the cheapest section, sorry. The seat might have been a lot of money but you can’t expect a great view from the cheapest seat tbf, even if it is ££.

You’ve missed out! They have fantastic productions. I’ve seen almost every one.
The Little Big Things was one of the best pieces of theatre I’ve ever seen. And I see a lot of theatre.

Sohoplace has fantastic views from every seat. There is not a bad seat in the whole place no matter what level you’re on. I’ve sat in every area from front row to second balcony. All fantastic - and I’m short.

for Hamilton try to get front two rows in stalls. Totally worth it and costs £79 a seat.

I never sit in those seats in the gods. To me it’s not worth being there. I can’t immerse myself and I can’t see anything. And all you hear is people eating. And you see all the lights from people’s phones. I could go on. I’ll stop. Sorry you wasted your money op. Go for front stalls.