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Post by lt on Nov 1, 2024 15:51:56 GMT
Would really welcome advice on where people think the best £25 seats in the theatre are located, as I'm planning to book a visit, but haven't been to the Wanamaker theatre before. Many thanks.
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Post by David J on Nov 1, 2024 16:47:34 GMT
First thing, don't even consider the cheap seats in the balcony at the sides directly above the stage. Maybe the front row but behind that you will see at best half the action.
I always went for the restricted view seats behind the pillars at the back of the stalls. Yes there's a pillar in your view but the theatre is so intimate and the action close that the pillars are barely a hindrance.
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Post by n1david on Nov 1, 2024 16:54:17 GMT
And just to set your expectations, remember that there are some of us who think there are no good seats at the Sam Wanamaker (even the expensive ones) - but it is certainly a theatrical experience worth doing at least once.
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Post by Jan on Nov 1, 2024 17:01:51 GMT
Would really welcome advice on where people think the best £25 seats in the theatre are located, as I'm planning to book a visit, but haven't been to the Wanamaker theatre before. Many thanks. I'd slightly favour those further away from the stage towards the back of the Upper Gallery. £25 options in the Lower Gallery are right behind a pillar and if the place is full there is little scope to move sideways. I'm talking about sightlines here - for discomfort they are all equally terrible as are all the other price bands. Best value (in purely relative terms) are the four £49 ones in the back row of the Pit directly facing the stage. But those are just my views - others may disagree, it's really about what type and level of discomfort suits you best. |
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Post by mattnyc on Nov 1, 2024 18:06:18 GMT
I sat in one close to the stage on the “sides” and I’ve never been as uncomfortable as I was for those few hours. My body faced one way and my head turned completely the other way. I was sore for DAYS.
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Post by david on Nov 1, 2024 18:18:39 GMT
I sat in one close to the stage on the “sides” and I’ve never been as uncomfortable as I was for those few hours. My body faced one way and my head turned completely the other way. I was sore for DAYS. I had one visit to that theatre and I haven't been since for that very reason. I was sat on one of the benches at the front and my back and neck were in agony as well. A stunning theatre but should come with a health warning with those seats. |
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Post by lt on Nov 1, 2024 18:21:19 GMT
Thank you everyone for your thoughts, that's really useful, sounds like this may be my only visit there!
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Post by Jan on Nov 1, 2024 18:21:30 GMT
I sat in one close to the stage on the “sides” and I’ve never been as uncomfortable as I was for those few hours. My body faced one way and my head turned completely the other way. I was sore for DAYS. The programming suits me ideally but nothing else about it does. I have been to a lot of Read Not Dead play readings there where all the tickets are the same price so I've tried out lots of locations trying to find a good one - none of them are. One of those plays had a run time of 4hrs - imagine that. |
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Post by Jan on Nov 1, 2024 18:24:22 GMT
Thank you everyone for your thoughts, that's really useful, sounds like this may be my only visit there! It's worth going once at least - but of course their claims to be "authentic" are entirely spurious, particularly in the audience seating. |
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Post by partytentdown on Nov 1, 2024 19:25:26 GMT
Take a cushion for the love of god!
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Post by Jan on Nov 1, 2024 19:30:46 GMT
Take a cushion for the love of god! I saw someone there once with a cushion with an attached back rest - an excellent idea if you are stranded on one of those bench seats not in the back row. |
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Post by David J on Nov 1, 2024 19:50:09 GMT
I always took my winter coat in to sit on
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Post by jake on Nov 1, 2024 22:12:29 GMT
And just to set your expectations, remember that there are some of us who think there are no good seats at the Sam Wanamaker (even the expensive ones) - but it is certainly a theatrical experience worth doing at least once. Quite. I thought I'd struck lucky some years ago when they halved the price of 'best' seats for the Gemma Arterton Duchess of Malfi. I think we were in the middle of some extreme weather and people just weren't travelling (or even going out!) so stage side seats were going for about £35. Amazingly, the stage was set so the infamous 'waxworks' were displayed behind the backdrop so that from many of the side seats (£70+ at full price, remember) the punters literally couldn't see what so horrified the Duchess. Since then I've always just got the cheapest possible ticket - usually standing - and last time (for Hattie Morahan in Ghosts) we got upgraded to front row of the gallery and, probably, the best sightlines I've ever had in the venue, on £5 tickets. If I had to choose, the Pit looks best - but I've never sat there so don't take my word for it (and I don't think there are any cheap seats there anyway). Fwiw, the explanation I was given was that the the SW replicates the conditions of an age when theatre audiences were more concerned about the social status of people they'd be sitting near to; and actually getting a clear view of the play was a rather minor consideration. I've had some good evenings there but, honestly, as a theatre it makes a good museum. |
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Post by lynette on Nov 1, 2024 22:52:40 GMT
True, no good seats. This place tried to reproduce the original 16th century theatre but forgot punters these days are bigger.. you need flexible legs 😂 but I would say there have been some lovey shows here so give it a go.
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Post by lt on Nov 2, 2024 19:23:42 GMT
Booked two - doubtless uncomfortable seats - to see Three Sisters. But looking forward to the experience!
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Post by kit66 on Nov 2, 2024 20:52:27 GMT
Only been to the venue once - and never again!
Middle of the front row of the upper gallery.
What with knees being shoved up against the barrier with no leg room and hemmed in on either side by my other audience members due to an abundance of disreguarded winter coats and shopping bags there was the added "bonus" of being very near to the wooden ceiling.Visions of being buried alive!
To say I was struck by an acute feeling of claustrophbia was an understatement and couldn't get out of the place quick enough - at the interval to be exact!
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Post by hamletothello on Nov 3, 2024 0:50:38 GMT
All seats are uncomfortable but my advice is to go for one at the back so that you can lean against the wall. Oh, and end of row so you can stretch out your legs. Standing tix are their own kind of torture!
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Post by Jan on Nov 3, 2024 10:39:38 GMT
All seats are uncomfortable but my advice is to go for one at the back so that you can lean against the wall. At this venue you can get a very good idea of which seats are better in each price range by looking at partially-booked future performances and seeing which seats have already been booked. The ones against a wall generally sell first for example. The wisdom of crowds. |
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Post by kate8 on Nov 3, 2024 13:32:05 GMT
Apart from the standing seats, I think the cheapest ones are all behind pillars. Of the next price level (£45ish from memory, but I’m not sure) the best IMO are either back row of the pit, or back row at the side of the stage. With the latter you can’t see behind the stage or the musicians gallery, but the view of the stage is usually good, albeit side on. The back row seats in the pit have a little shelf between the seat & wall, just to maximise discomfort by ensuring you can’t even lean back easily, so it’s useful to take an appropriate size, carefully packed bag so you can put it on the shelf to lean on. Most of the seats have no room at all for bags.
I’m sure the Globe (for both theatres) could hire out portable back supports - another money-raiser, and might encourage more people to buy tickets
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