The (New) Union Theatre

It's housed in two (maybe a third behind the scenes) arches immediately opposite the old venue. The arch nearest the road forms the auditorium (and there's a door to the pavement that wasn't in use on opening night but looks like it might be used as an exit at some point). Main entrance is in the second archway into the cafe/bar area. Much bigger space than previously, bar at the back, Box Office still operating from the end of the bar as before. Three unisex loos off a corridor that runs behind the bar.

For The Fix, the auditorium was set up with a single bank of seating (don't know if that's their permanent set up or they will flex it as they did in the old space), with an unraised performance space. Didn't count the rows, but would guess 10-12 with 10 seats on each (9 on the front row I think). They are raked, but with two rows to each tier, so line of sight really wasn't great. I was in the third row, so raised above the two in front, but with those both on the same level as the performance space, I couldn't see anything below waist level and when actors sat down, I lost them altogether.

Orchestra was squeezed into a tiny area just to the (house) left of the performance space, under a staircase which goes up to a mezzanine level used, along with a rear door on the other side of the auditorium, for actors entrances/exits.

They're operating the same numbered ticketing system (i.e. first come, first seated).

Enjoyed the production but spent quite a lot of it mourning the view I would have had in the old space! Feel it may deter me from visiting as often, certainly on work days when I can't get there early enough to bag a front row seat.

Ah, loo equality at last - the blokes will have to queue like the ladies.



Thanks for the forwarning. Seeing the at the end of the run so will make sure I am there early to get a good seat.

I have actually never been at the old Union Theatre, so I can't compare, but I thought the new one was OK. Had no trouble with the sightlines from what I think was Row 4. There were a few very short moments when I couldn't see people when they were on the floor, but that didn't bother me.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is that seats only get comfy (with armrests) from Row 3 onwards. The first two rows are simple chairs. So given the choice, I'd go for Row 3-4 rather than front rows and those chairs.

Nope, it hasn't. Was quite toasty inside on Saturday.

To be fair, there's still some construction going on, so they might still be planning to install air conditioning later and it was just their bad luck to be caught out by the heatwave. Not sure what all the stuff was for that was piled in the "room" between the auditorium and the street that also served as an exit.

Thanks. I'll be avoiding it in summer then.

Visited on Saturday (Out There - excellent) and thought the new space much more pleasant (and decidedly less whiffy) than the old. The cafe/bar was busy and bustling and most of the seating in the auditorium was comfy, looked like reclaimed plush tippy up seats. Only the front row was standard, less comfy looking chairs. The seating was configured in an L shape for this production, seemed to work OK but the "band" (piano and guitar) was far too loud, with the piano drowning out the unmiked actors at times. There looked to be three unisex toilets but only one was working, so long queues which was a pain and disappointing in a new venue. No mirror facing you now though, thank goodness!
Saw some of the cast of the next show - Moby Dick - taking a break from rehearsals, so there must be a rehearsal space too.

FFS does literally everything have to turn into a slam on feminism? This is supposed to be a theatre forum, not the Daily Mail online.

Yep, it'd definitely put me off booking anything at the Union between June and September, to be frank.

I’m going to this next Saturday which is a musical revue that’s had good reports:
www.uniontheatre.biz/its-only-life.html

Not a fan of the New Union Theatre. I do hate the unallocated seating. You have to arrive early to get the number to get in first but it means hanging around - there is nothing in the area and when I went they were not serving food and looked at me as if I was insane for asking.

I don't like the staircase stage right of the space as it unbalances the space - stage centre is not the centre of the total space (if that makes sense) because the staircase intrudes on the space. The actors used this staircase for entrances and exits and had to tip toe up and down - most distracting.

Plus - yes it was VERY warm in there and it wasn't a particularly hot day!

The productions seem to have gone off too. The two I have seen were both very mediocre and nothing else has either appealed or I have wanted to take the risk of wasting an evening.

Plus - I can remember a time when ladies would have been horrified at sharing loos with men.