SEAT REVIEWS: Theatre Royal, Glasgow
OVERVIEW:
The Theatre Royal is the oldest theatre in Glasgow, originally opening in 1867, the name changing to the Theatre Royal in 1869. It is the longest running theatre in Scotland. The theatre was spectacularly expanded and the new foyer/ lifts/ public spaces were opened in December 2014.
The theatre is owned by, and is the home of, Scottish Opera. It is also a major receiving house.
The auditorium has 1541 seats arranged over 4 levels, from bottom to top: Stalls, Dress Circle, Upper Circle and Balcony.
The theatre has a number of structurally essential pillars within the auditorium. These are clearly marked on the official theatre plan and seats here are discounted in price.
INDIVIDUAL SEAT REVIEWS:
STALLS: The stalls can be configured in a number of ways depending if the full opera orchestra pit is needed or not. There are structural pillars situated within the space. When buying tickets these are clearly marked. There are 4 wheelchair spaces in the stalls.
| ROW | INDIVIDUAL SEAT REVIEWS – STALLS |
| AAA | |
| BBB | |
| AA | |
| BB | |
| A | |
| B | |
| C | C11/12 – excellent view with average height person in front. Really feel part of the action. |
| D | |
| E | |
| F | F25/26 – At end of the row. If you have anyone remotely tall in front of you, your view will be seriously restricted. |
| G | G1 – Restricted View
G30 – restricted View |
| H | H1 (restricted view) and 2 – End of row on right side facing stage. Good view but top right hand quarter of the set is cut off from view. Surtitles on main stage can’t be seen from here. Fine if all the action takes place at front/mid stage. H2 could also be affected if very tall person sat in front.
H31 – restricted view |
| J | |
| K | |
| L | |
| M | M3 – Restricted View
M27 – Restricted View |
| N | N2 – Restricted View
N3 – Restricted View N26 – Restricted View N27 – Restricted View
|
| O | O1 – Restricted View
O9 – Restricted View O17 – Restricted View O25 – Restricted View |
| P | P7 – Restricted View
P8 – Restricted View P16 – Restricted View P17 – Restricted View P18 – rRstricted View |
| Q | |
| R |
DRESS CIRCLE: Structural pillars are situated in the space. The upper circle overhangs all but the front four rows – as you move to the rows further back this cuts off the view of the top of the stage. There are intermittent handrails to help you down to your seat.
There are boxes on either side of the circle.
There is a small row of slip seats on either side of the dress circle.
There are also wheelchair spaces on this level – there is a lift.
Slip Seat Reviews – AA 1,2,3,4,5 and BB 1,2,3,4,5 – all labelled restricted view
| ROW | INDIVIDUAL SEAT REVIEWS – DRESS CIRCLE |
| A | A9 – Partially Restricted view because of handrail in eyeline
A20 – Partially Restricted view because of handrail in eyeline. A33 – Sold as restricted view as there is a railing off to your right hand side but none of the stage obstructed. View excellent and plenty leg room as on the end of the aisle. A34 – left hand side of auditorium facing stage, excellent, unobstructed view, seat slightly turned to stage. Legroom fine. A35 – Left hand side facing stage. Seat faces slightly towards the right. Excellent unobstructed view as front row. Legroom is OK but could be tight for tall audience members. A36 – As A35, seat has slightly less room than A35 (by that I mean the actual size of the seat (width) I believe the seats are the same size but because of the angle A36 is slightly more restricted). That said, the legroom should be OK for all but the tallest theatre-goers. Excellent view. |
| B | B7/8 – On the aisle on right hand side as you face the stage. Very good view of stage if a tiny bit side on. Leg room good.
B35/36 – On the left hand side facing stage. The section of seats here is curved in to face the centre of the stage. The seat is slightly turned away from the stage, the head-on view is actually the boxes on the other side of the auditorium, that said it is negligible, the view of the whole stage is excellent. Leg room reasonable to good. |
| C | C2 – Poor view, parts of stage obstructed, even behind a small woman in front – view awful.
C3 – Very bad view, could only see a tiny part of stage. Had to sit on an angle to see one small part of stage. At no time could see the whole of the stage. Completely affected enjoyment of the production. C4 – Not ideal, but better than C3, very small person sat in front, their head obstructed the view (and I am tall) could only see because seat next to me was empty and could lean into that space to see. Whole right side of stage cut off from view. C21/22 – very tight legroom even if you are small. C35/36/37 – on left hand side facing stage. Leg room good, view slightly to side, little bit of back ache/ neck ache turning slightly to face stage but good panoramic view of set/stage. |
| D | D2/D3 – These seats are only fine if no-one is sitting in front of you. Anyone over average height in front and your view is seriously restricted. Right hand side of stage cut off completely.
D7/8 – On the aisle on right hand side as you face the stage. Very good slightly side-on view. Can get legs into aisle in seat 8. |
| E | This row has the most legroom and space between the wide-backed seats and is advertised thus.
E1 – Restricted view E2 – Restricted view E12/13 – Good central view, excellent leg room. E21 – excellent view, fabulous legroom, next to pillar so it has a little ledge on right side perfect for your drink! E22/23 – Central section of the auditorium, slightly off centre but excellent view – great legroom and wide seat E39 – Restricted view E40 – Restricted view |
| F | F2 – Restricted view
F8 – Restricted View F16/17 – Central view F21/22 – Central view, decent leg room. F39 – Restricted View |
| G | G4 – Restricted View
G16 – Restricted View G25 – Restricted View G37 – Restricted View G9/10 – End of aisle. Good view. |
| H | H15 – Restricted View
H16 – Restricted View H17 – Restricted View H24 – Restricted View H25 – Restricted View H26 – Restricted View |
| J | J9 – Partially Restricted View
J16 – Restricted View J23 – Restricted View J30 – Partially Restricted View |
| K | K15/16 – View of stage restricted by the overhang of the upper circle. Felt restricted for space. |
| L | L9 – Restricted View
L10 – Restricted View L11/12 – Sold as restricted view and it is that. Feels very far back, at an angle and the view of the stage is a “letterbox” effect. The roof of the upper circle hangs right above your head and feels very oppressive. Not recommended for theatre, or anything you want to actually appreciate visually. Probably fine for an orchestral concert. Left at interval of ballet as could only see little flashes of action. Don’t waste your money. L13 – Restricted View L20 – Restricted View L21 – Restricted View L22 – Restricted View L23 – Restricted View L24 – Restricted View |
UPPER CIRCLE: Again, structural pillars protrude into the area.
Wheelchair spaces available on this level – accessed by lift.
| ROW | INDIVIDUAL SEAT REVIEWS |
| CC | SLIP SEATS RIGHT – all seats 1-9 Restricted View |
| DD | SLIP SEATS LEFT – all seats 1-9 Restricted View |
| A | A1 – Restricted View
A10 – Front row, on aisle. The view is OK, partially restricted because of handrail, but the legroom appalling even if you can get one leg in to the aisle on right. A36 – Restricted View |
| B | B1 – Restricted View
B2 – Restricted View B35 – Restricted View B36 – Restricted View |
| C | C1 – Restricted View
C36 – Restricted View |
| D | D2 – Restricted View
D11/12 – Legroom average and view fine – feels a bit detached from stage. D35 – Restricted View |
| E | E3 – Restricted View
E8 – Restricted View E12 – Leg room OK but not brilliant. View unrestricted but felt far away and as a result didn’t feel engaged with the production. E14 – Restricted View – pillar E23 – Restricted View E29 – Restricted View E32/33 – Decent value for price, legroom/ view fine but felt far away from action. E34 – Restricted View E35 – Restricted View |
| F | F7 – Restricted View
F8 – Restricted View F14 – Restricted View F23 – Restricted View F29 – Restricted View F30 – Restricted View |
| G | G6 – Restricted View
G7 Restricted View G8 – Restricted View G13 – Restricted View G14 – Restricted View G15 – Restricted View G23 – Restricted View G24 – Restricted View G29 – Restricted View G30 – Restricted View G31 – Restricted View |
| H | H7 – Restricted View
H8 – Restricted View H13 – Restricted View H814- Restricted View H15 – Restricted View H23 – Restricted View H24 – Restricted View H29 – Restricted View H30 – On left side facing stage – a bit of a side on view of stage. There’s a pole smack bang in the centre of the view in front of you. It is sold as restricted but it really is comedically right in your face. You can lean either side of pole much to the annoyance of people either side of you but not to be recommended. H31 – Restricted View |
| J | J12 – Restricted View
J13 – Restricted View J23 – Restricted View J24 – Restricted View J25 – Restricted View |
| K | Wheelchair spaces |
BALCONY: There is lift access to the top (and all other levels) of the theatre, the rows are very, very steeply raked with up to 35 steps to access them. There are intermittent hand rails.
| ROW | INDIVIDUAL SEAT REVIEWS |
| A | A7 – Restricted View
A18 – Restricted View A19 – Restricted View A30 – Restricted View |
| B | B6 – Restricted View
B7 – Restricted View B18 – Restricted View B19 – Restricted View B30 – Restricted View B31 – Restricted View |
| C | C5 – Restricted View
C6 – Restricted View C7 – Restricted View C8 – Restricted View C15/16 – Quite possibly the most terrifying descent to a seat I’ve ever experienced. Not for those afraid of heights. The rake of the stairs is unbelievably sharp and the rail that’s meant to stop you is about calf height. You can almost touch the ceiling when you stand up. Do not look down to the stalls whatever you do. The view is actually very good ( I would argue that you feel closer here than in the upper circle below) but you are so pre-occupied with the terrifying height, one’s enjoyment is somewhat affected!!!!! Had to have a lie down after this!!!!! C18 – Restricted View C19 – Restricted View C29 – Restricted View C30 – Restricted View C31 – Restricted View C32 – Restricted View |
| D | D3 – Restricted View
D4 – Restricted View D5 – Restricted View D6 – Restricted View D7 – Restricted View D18 – Restricted View D19 – Restricted View D30 – Restricted View D31 – Restricted View D32 – Restricted View D33 – Restricted View D34 – Restricted View |
| E | E3 – Restricted View
E4 – Restricted View E5 – Restricted View E6 – Restricted View E7 – Restricted View E18 – Restricted View E19 – Restricted View E30 – Restricted View E31 – Restricted View E32 – Restricted View E33 – Restricted View E34 – Restricted View |
| F | F2 – Restricted View
F3 – Restricted View F4 – Restricted View F5 – Restricted View F6 – Restricted View F7 – Restricted View F30 – Restricted View F31 – Restricted View F32 – Restricted View F33 – Restricted View F35 – Restricted View |
| G | G1 – Restricted View
G2 – Restricted View G3 – Restricted View G4 – Restricted View G5 – Restricted View G31 – Restricted View G32 – Restricted View G33 – Restricted View G34 – Restricted View G35 – Restricted View G36 – Restricted View |
| H | H1 – Restricted View
H2 – Restricted View H3 – Restricted View H4 – Restricted View H5 – Restricted View H31 – Restricted View H32 – Restricted View H33 – Restricted View H34 – Restricted View H35 – Restricted View H36 – Restricted View |
| J | J1 – Restricted View
J2 – Restricted View J3 – Restricted View J4 – Restricted View J5 – Restricted View J31 – Restricted View J32 – Restricted View J33 – Restricted View J34 – Restricted View J35 – Restricted View J36 – Restricted View |
| K | |
| L | |
| M | |
| N | Wheelchair Spaces |
IF YOU HAVE A REVIEW OF A SEAT IN THIS THEATRE PLEASE CONTACT glasgowtheatreblog@gmail.com or on Twitter @LaurenHumphreyz for your review to be added.
**PLEASE GET IN TOUCH EVEN IF THE SEAT YOU SAT IN HAS ALREADY GOT A REVIEW – WE WANT ALL OPINIONS OF THE SEAT – VIEW/LEGROOM/COMFORT/TEMPERATURE/IS SEAT OFF-SET OR DIRECTLY BEHIND ONE IN FRONT/ IS IT OK FOR TALL or SHORT THEATRE-GOERS? LET US KNOW.