FAQ's
About the theatremonkey website

For "Frequently Asked Questions" about London Theatre in general, click here.
For "Frequently Asked Questions" about theatremonkey mailing list, click here.
 

Who are you? 
Theatremonkey is a Londoner who knows the major West End theatres like the back of his paw. See its' autobiography - a tragic but true story.

Why the name?
Theatremonkey likes to think it is "monkeying about" with a respected institution - the secretive world of London Theatre! The other reason is personal and emailing a large sum to the monkey's bank will reveal it!

Why this site? 
Theatremonkey has spent years talking to fellow audience members and has noticed how often we get a raw deal as customers. From high prices for poor seats, to sitting through a third rate performance of a supposedly ' Top ' show, Theatremonkey compared notes and, using the wonders of technology, put them on this unofficial private fan site.

So what is it getting out of this?
Theatremonkey loves London's theatres and is keen to encourage the world to share the passion. And get the best deal they can when they do.

This site is totally independent, managed by an enthusiastic amateur site owner, and as such says what it likes. 

So it works in the Industry?
Nope, never. Theatremonkey is just ordinary customers who, over the years found their own ways around.

How reliable is its Opinion?
Information on this site is Theatremonkey personal, subjective opinion, based on what has been seen and heard over the years. Nobody knows everything and contributors are welcome and strongly encouraged to add to the knowledge here. This site aims to be a place for theatregoers to share ideas and experiences, not be a personal "soapbox" for the owner. Theatremonkey's own opinions "calls it as it sees it" and sincerely hopes not to steer you wrong. Also, please see What Guests say about this website.

Explain your Seat Ratings?
Everyone is different and has their own preferences and opinions on what constitutes good value. For this website, the seats to buy / avoid ratings by the site writers are compiled based on a person five foot six tall, paying full price for a ticket. Recommendations are based on view of the stage, value for money and (dealt with in greater detail elsewhere) comfort - often expressed as the "legroom" factor.

Some folk are confused by the colour codes employed on the seating plans. As one regular reader puts it,
"I take green seats to be the ones that might be worth choosing first, white ones a second choice and red a third because the monkey has a comment to make about them".

And that about sums up the intention of the site. The idea is NOT to grade seats "good, not so good, bad" but instead to highlight those that merit particular comments to be made about them.

The monkey takes a cautious and conservative approach to this charting, and for that reason some comment that tickets are better than the site guide indicated. Great! The monkey is delighted that a reader felt they had experienced "added value" in thier outing. Far better to be pleased than disappointed...and if you are pleased, do share with other readers: contact us.

Can you help me pick between / describe the differences between two seats?
The site offers an overview of every venue, plus as many comments as it receives about each one from other readers. Only you can decide if it is worth handing over your hard earned bananas for a seat, so personal instinct is honestly the best policy! Consider your own needs in terms of legroom, price and whether you are trying to have a special or simple evening out...and the answers should become clearer than even "Mystic Monkey" could help you with!

I'm larger than average, can you help on locating suitable seats?
A page of advice is available by clicking here.

No Fancy Graphics?
The monkey has to be careful about copyright. Where it has obtained permission, it uses graphics. Otherwise it generates its own!

Cookies and Your Privacy?
To comply with the 2012 UK E-Privacy Directive, Theatremonkey.com gives the following information:
Cookies: These are small data files place on your computer to help it navigate some websites. They can be switched off if you choose, but the site may not work properly (allow you to buy tickets etc) with them turned off - via the "Manage Cookies" option in your browser. See www.allaboutcookies.org and www.youronlinechoices.eu/ for more information on how cookies work and how you can arrange things to suit your own preference.

The Theatremonkey.com website and Theatremonkey.com website blog DO NOT use "cookies" on its website / blog at any time when you stay on its own pages. The only data collected directly from visits never identifies individual visitors and simply records numbers of visits to a page in the site's statistical visitor numbers log.

The Theatremonkey.com Mailing List only collects email addresses and your personally selected password and contact preferences. Again, Cookies are not used in the completion of this form, which is held on a computer outside the EU but complies in any case with all demands of the directive. In common with the California Online Privacy Protection Act Compliance: Theatremonkey.com NEVER passes these details to any third party without your permission, and you are free to edit your entry on this list automatically 24/7 at www.theatremonkey.info.

Affiliate Marketing: Also called "E Commerce" and information about how this all works for visitors can be found at http://www.iab-performance-marketing-explained.net/. This is the reason why many sites Theatremonkey.com links to WILL use cookies. The cookies enable them to track visitors from Theatremonkey.com for commercial purposes - their own and for reporting sales back to Theatremonkey.com for example, where Theatremonkey.com has a business relationship with them that depends on transactions / visits being recorded by them for our mutual benefit. On their sites, it also allows them to ensure your visit is smooth as you progress through their pages. For example, it lets you easily follow through the process from selecting a ticket to reaching the payment and confirmation pages. Your agreement to this will be requested or implied at these site owner's discretion should you choose to visit them, and their sites will tell you more about their own policies too. All sites which do this are carefully chosen and monitored constantly by Theatremonkey.com.

Other links: Do be aware that Theatremonkey.com links to many other types of website, and that they too may choose to use cookies for marketing or other administrative reasons. Again, their sites should explain their behaviour at the time and your agreement to this will be requested or implied at these site owner's discretion should you choose to visit them.

In the unlikely event of a third party website placing any other type of cookie on your computer, http://www.networkadvertising.org/managing/opt_out.asp explains how to opt-out for advertising cookies if required.

California Online Privacy Protection Act Compliance: Theatremonkey.com NEVER passes your details to any third party without your permission, and you are free to contact us at any time to edit any details we hold about yourself. Also, as stated above, our mailing list can be edited 24/7 at www.theatremonkey.info.

Any further questions, including "cookie audit" details of commercial Affiliate Marketing sites we partner with that use them? Please do contact us at any time, we are happy to help.

All details above are for information only and Theatremonkey.com is not responsible for any advice given on any third-party website mentioned.

Seating Plans - not like in the theatre?
Again, seating plans are copyright. To avoid any conflict, Theatremonkey has created its own using carefully written notes from site visits rather than copying in any way existing plans. 

How often are pages updated / what happens if they are not?
Theatremonkey has the ability to update pages at any time during opening hours - and does so whenever it has new information to add. Changes that result from a production closing are usually made late on a Saturday afternoon.

Occasionally, for technical reasons, it isn't possible to update pages as quickly as it would like. In those cases, please excuse outdated / incorrect information - it will be altered as the earliest opportunity.

Pop / Music Venues too?
Long overdue for comment in Theatremonkey's opinion and while being honest about the theatres, why not use the space.

What No Opera Coverage?
The Royal Opera House Covent Garden has a large and devoted following who are often forced by high prices to seek only the affordable seats - Slips at the very top edges of the theatre and the farthest recesses of the Amphitheatre. They know these are at least cheap and offer a way to hear the music and see what they can. The official Royal Opera House website also has an interactive seating plan now, allowing visitors to check the view from many seats all over the venue.

Also, the monkey knows nothing about this specialised art form, so does not feel it can attempt to cover it!

A reader says,
"I must say that the http://www.roh.org.uk/ interactive seating plan is wonderful....it is incredibly honest and even lets you know if a head may be in the way.... Oh, and for the record I saw a ballet there from row T of the amphitheatre - and although I was far away I had a great view (I remembered the binoculars!!) the legroom was great but my view of the stage un-obscured and being that far away, you really do appreciate the choreography.(£15 a seat). Also note that there are NO binoculars in the seats so people may be disappointed. this is not mentioned anywhere on the ROH site. Folding paper binoculars are available in the shop for £2 and actually do an alright job!"

From what readers have told the monkey, the following applies to the London Coliseum, if it helps:
"the central stalls are good, the stage boxes have a one-fifth restricted view but are great for close viewing, the top balcony cheap with bars in the way but a value-for-money view of the stage for £5, and the sound and air-conditioning are variable! The Upper Circle seats are now spaced as well as the stalls, but the front row lacks legroom.

Another reader adds, in November 2007,
"It may be worth mentioning that kids appear to go half price as standard. Aside from the fact that the prices of the tickets, if you want something decent, are high, it does make taking a child more appealing (even more so when your ten year old turns out to really enjoy 'The Magic Flute'!!). There is also something strange at work, at least with an online booking that I haven't quite fathomed which meant went I last booked I actually paid a third of my seat price for my daughter. I booked two shows at the same time and I'm on their mailing list. However, that doesn't quite explain it and I don't like to ask too many questions!!"

The monkey is saying nothing either, but finds the information interesting...

Another reader found box D very cozy.

Beyond that, the official website is at www.eno.org  - - and the box office is on 020 7632 8310 (often answered by See Tickets).

 

Why don't you cover the Globe Theatre?
The Globe has a unique and wonderful website www.shakespeares-globe.org which actually allows you to look at the stage from every section of the theatre seating. With coverage like that, a theatremonkey report seems a little unnecessary! Look under "Booking" on their website for this useful information. A seating plan is also available www.londontheatre.co.uk, showing numbering.

One reader says of the place, following a first visit,
"must remember next time to get seats in Row A where you can lean forward, or Row E where you can lean back. We were in Row B in the middle on the lowest level which was a great view but the lack of back support was a bit of a problem for us."

“A6 and 7: “Henry V,” (Chris B). These seats have a side on view of the stage but as they are the front row, they allow for a good clear view of the stage. This is a very unique venue, and you almost feel privileged to be part of such a historical building. They are far enough to the right to avoid looking directly at the large pillar holding up the front of the canopy over the stage. These seats are also raised so you can easily see over the many people standing in the ‘yard’. As it is primarily Shakespeare performed here and most are 3 hours plus, I’d recommend getting a seat and also either hiring a cushion or sitting on a coat etc as the seats are very uncomfortable (essentially wooden boards). I wouldn’t say these seats are perfect by any stretch but you are close enough to hear everything, see most of it, even if from a side view, and of course covered if it rains. Plus they are very cheap which is always good.
 

Why don't you cover other particular London venues?
The reason alas is time, space and cost. The monkey has only limited amounts of all these, and it has to draw a line somewhere. While it would be great to cover more places, the monkey simply can't afford the resources to do so. It would hate to add somewhere and then not be able to monitor changes as they happened. Rather than post information that could be years out of date, it currently would rather not disappoint readers...so it "sticks to the knitting" for the time being.

Some venues are now improving things for themselves. A reader writes,
"Cadogan Hall: http://www.cadoganhall.com/seatingplan.html now have a ‘’view from seat’ function, which enables you to ‘see’ the sightlines to the stage from various seats (As it is primarily a concert venue, I would have thought the most important thing would be the sound, but that is another matter) From a brief view, and my own knowledge of the hall it seemed pretty helpful.

On the venue itself the reader continues,
"As the Cadogan Hall has been relatively recently renovated into a venue, they have been able to pay attention to the seating, without structural compromises – the seats are comfortable and ‘good’ everywhere so they are proud to show them – though I would personally avoid those right down the front, because you either get a fabulous view up a soloists armpit or strain to see the back region of an orchestra"

 

The London O2 arena at the Millennium Dome:
Due to the size of the venue, the monkey isn't planning full coverage at the moment, but will keep the idea under review.
To book, a "choose your own seat" system was introduced in late 2012 at the main venue website www.theO2.co.uk. Low booking fees and simple.
The venue has (unusually for a large hall) made fairly comprehensive numbered plans available online here (nifty 3D plan), and also with their main ticket agency, Ticketmaster. Click here for the venue page, and select a plan from the "View a Seating Chart" drop down box to the right of the big "O2" graphic title. The graphics show row, seat and block numbering for most of the events planned, where it is known and confirmed. Don't forget that seating in the centre of a venue often isn't fixed until the very last second as stages are portable and nobody quite knows where equipment will go - hence nobody has total plans online because crystal balls are in short supply, alas!

A reader reports,
" personally I wouldn’t go for the upper tier seating – it is very steep and not particularly pleasant – you know it’s bad when you see people coming down the steps backwards (true I swear!)"

The Roundhouse Theatre
In June 2012 reader Chris B reports of "Twelfth Night,":
Circle A14 and B14: Excellent clear view of the extremely expansive stage. You feel very close and the view is slightly side on but this makes no difference. There is a safety barrier just to the right which can easily be seen around and doesn't impact view. There is plenty of leg room, especially with both seats being an aisle seat."

The Shepherds Bush Empire:
A reader contributes
"Stalls: I generally find the view not that great unless you manage to get right up the front - although there are 2 possies either side of the bar with a step that accommodates around 2 people each... so if you managed to grab that spot you would have a great view.

Level 1: I much prefer level 1 and some of the best spots are around the sides where there are 2 rows of seating and behind them a sort of wall with a leaning bar - all give unrestricted views and allow you to stand up and dance (and easy egress to the bar/toilets)."

Sadler's Wells Theatre:
A reader says,
"C8 and C9 in the stalls - bagged a couple of returns due to the snow, as it was sold out.
Production: Sleeping Beauty, January 2013.
Not much rake. The seat in front really was 'in front' - i.e .I was looking directly at the back of someone's head, whereas usually in the stalls you are peering through a gap where people's shoulders meet. The seats in front were positioned same as mine, I had to swivel left and right to see certain parts of the action on stage - not very good considering the £55 price tag per seat.
I would recommend that patrons book the row behind - Row D. This is stepped up on a higher level and provides a clear view of the stage unhindered by people's heads! Same price I believe.
Beautiful production, wouldn't have missed it for the world. But would rather not sit in these seats given the choice!"



"The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" in Kensington Gardens Theatre ThreeSixty (a temporary venue often used in summer):
A reader who has seen the show says,
"There really is not a bad seat in the house. Even the back row seats that are marked as 'obstructed view' have a full view of the stage, just not the sides of the tent so some animations are missed. This is compensated for by having repetition and movement in the animations, however. The front row is also not so low as to make the experience too poor--there were young children sitting there and they could still see all of the action, even if on the other side of the stage. The actors move throughout the entire tent so everyone has a feeling of inclusion."

At "Peter Pan" in 2010, others observed back then that,
1) Avoid the front 2 rows – A and B - in all blocks as the stage is quite high. Row D is about eye-level. There is around 3ft of legroom between row A and the stage.

2) Avoid the back 2 rows – M and N. Lights are nearby and hot and the projections look distorted.

3) Avoid blocks AA, A, E and FF, unless you can get the aisle seats nearest blocks B and D. They tend to play to the front blocks (those furthest from the artists entrance between blocks AA and FF) rather than the rear ones.

4) Go block C then B or D, in that order, rows C to L.

5) Sound is mostly poor the further from the stage you get, and generator noise is loudest in the back rows.