Etiquette of moving to an empty seat ..

I generally stay where I am because I'm always worried that the seat's actual purchaser may just have been delayed, and their late arrival will be EVEN MORE disruptive if they have to turf someone out of their seat. If I'm literally just moving one or two seats along in the same row, I might do it because it's so easy to move back, but never otherwise.

Also, allow me to be the boring person who points out that moving yourself to a better seat than you've paid for is technically theft...

@theatremonkey, you're the expert here, back me up?

I've done it once, whilst a tad intoxicated at the big green London show. 3 of us in a group ended up with far outer stalls seats, there were a lot of empty rows in front and more central so when the lights went down we moved. Ushers were quickly on us to move back, but as I'd legged it I kept going. Then spent the first act sat alone feeling embarrassed and nervous of ushers finding me. Wouldn't do it again.

In general I'd say ask an usher. Worst that can happen is they say no! I did this at the Haymarket - moved to a much better circle seat but would not have done that without asking.

In the Almeida I've often shuffled up from a restricted view seat to a better one in the same row if its empty. But I've also there regularly seen the ushers offering people a move to better seats just before curtain up. Similarly in the Donmar they regularly shift standing people to seats in the stalls just before the show starts.

On the other hand at the Old Vic I was ticked off (at great length and in a very patronising manner) by one of their charming staff when I shifted a seat over from a pillar seat. "You DO realise someone may have paid for that, and MAY have tried to return it for resale, and IF they notice you and complain we MAY ask you to pay the difference at the box office ..." etc. I mean they were correct but just ask me to move back!

I haven't encountered problems when moving. It's rare I move during the first act, I normally ask an usher if I have explicitly seen a seat. Or when seeing company and a few other shows I have went and asked the FoH manager in the foyer, they pull out a map showing the empty seats and I have been able to pick! Aladdin I was moved from the back row to the second row stalls, and company the FoH manager let me and a few mates move from back stalls to row G!

Doesn't hurt to ask, it's rare to find a horrible usher!

I think moving before interval is pretty much a no no, at least without the express permission of a member of staff. Spotting an empty seat and collaring it after the interval is a reasonable action but you should be prepared to be challenged and gracefully back down if so. I know of some people who deliberately buy cheaper tickets for some things knowing there is almost a guarantee that people will leave and you can nab a seat. I moved two seats down post interval at The American Clock because I had one of the legendary pillar seats and my row was nearly empty, it would have been ridiculous not to and also faintly ridiculous for the staff to complain. Am not sure I would have felt okay moving from say the Lillian Bayliss circle to a front row stalls.

Of course as Baemax notes above, it is in some way stealing, you are getting something you did not pay for. You wouldn't buy a pair of shoes, then take them back to the shop and just take another more expensive pair because you liked them better. Or if you did it would be shoplifting. This is no different, you bought and were sold, your ticket in good faith on the understanding it was 'restricted view' or 'legroom' or whatever which is why it was cheaper. The reason it becomes more acceptable so to speak after an interval is that the seat is no longer a money making prospect, technically all the foregoing applies but there is almost no chance the theatre will now sell it. However they would be within their rights to ask you to pay a proportion of the difference for the half of the show you see from an improved view. In reality it's very unlikely that they would because, well, why??

Usually I'm too nervous to move, even after a break!

Good comparison!

An example from air travel from thepointsguy.com/2017/05/business-class-with-economy-quora/

I#ve asked ushers a couple of times at the interval if I could more and they've let me and I've shifted along a row just as the lights go from behind a pillar fully ready to move back if told to. I worry about getting into trouble moving off my own bat although yes it's very frustrating sat looking at better empty seats in front of you if yours is poor.

One time I really didn’t like where I was sat (Edinburgh Playhouse; rear stalls, behind a pillar) because of how cramped and hot it was. So I checked the theatre website (they keep bookings open until the last second) and discreetly moved to an empty row nearer the front.

Only twice I've asked to move seats and both times been refused.
Once was at The Mousetrap many years ago - we were in the back of the circle and the front half was almost empty. But on asking the usher told us basically ' you bought cheap seats so you stay in the cheap seats'.
Other time was at The Playhouse for La Cage - I was in the very back row of the stalls and 4 completely empty rows in front of me. Again my request to move forward was denied as 'those seats cost more'.
This didn't really bother me as I had a clear view and plenty of room - just thought it might look better from the stage to fill in the gaps up closer!

If you've bought a seat then you should sit in that seat no matter how many empty seats there are, unless the theatre instructs you otherwise. Anything else just isn't cricket.

I move all the time if its convenient and there are empty seats. Most of the Pinter at the pinter I moved from pillar seats to middle of stall seats, and I always move in the interval if I don't like my seat.

Someone got shirty with me when I took their seat at the interval at the barbican cos they turned up late, but if you turn up for the second act, that's your problem.

My feeling is, either they had sold the seat and the person hasn't turned up, so no loss of money for the theatre. Or they couldn't sell the ticket, they aren't getting the money anyway, and at least one of their customers is having a better time at a lower price

The Old Vic really are knobheads about moving people. Young Vic and Royal Court on the other hand are lovely about it. National are 50/50

Oh no. No no no no no. If you don't like your seat, pay for a new one. I'm guessing the pillar seats are cheaper so if you only want to spend the least amount of money then I'm afraid you should stay stuck behind a pillar. Most theatres nowadays tell you if your seat is a restricted one. If they don't and you've also been charged full price for what turns out to be a restricted view then that is a different matter and it should be taken up with the Duty Manager. If one knowingly books a cheap ticket, more often than not there is a reason for that fact. Like it or lump it I'm afraid.

And quite right that someone got shirty with you when you took their seat at the interval. I've paid for a ticket, if I want to turn up 5 minutes before the end of the show then I jolly well have the right to do so. If you're in my seat at whatever time I arrive you'll either get my backside on your lap or the used lemon slice from my G&T in your eye.

Ummm, I don't see the difference myself. Moving into an empty seat that you didn't pay for is the same thing, whether it's the one next to you or diving into an empty seat somewhere else in the theatre.