It is always such a disappointment when you finally buy tickets to the show that you have been meaning to see for so long, only to have a metal bar obstructing your view and cramped legroom, ruining your entire theatre experience. I have had to sit craning my neck throughout a performance and trying to peer through a safety bar, and have learnt that where you choose to sit can transform your theatre evening from an average night not worth mentioning, to an incredible one that you want to tell all of your friends about. At the Adelphi Theatre on the Strand, there are numerous seating options available in three different seating sections – the Stalls, the Dress Circle and the Upper Circle – and as well as great seats to choose, there are particular seats to avoid at all costs.
Stall seating is located on the ground floor of the auditorium, and seats here are the closest to the stage. The stage in the Adelphi is really rather high, at the very front are not advised as you will have to strain your neck to get a full view of the performers on stage. My friends and I once sat at the front row of ‘Love Never Dies’ and views were disappointing, presenting an extremely restricted view for the last few minutes of the show. Being a big fan of this show, I have seen it many times and have sat a little further back from the front row, which had good views (if a little near to the stage) but noticeably less legroom than other Stall seating.
The Dress Circle is located in between the Stalls and the Upper Circle. There is very poor legroom throughout this section so if you are taller, opt for Stall seats instead. Central seats are the best in this area as the first and last couple of seats in each row are turned more towards the centre to enhance their view which can be a bit off-putting as well, so central seats are definitely preferred.
The Upper Circle is the highest seating area in the Adelphi Theatre and as with the Dress Circle, has rather insufficient legroom. I had a look at the seats in the Upper Circle before the crowds arrived and saw that seats in the rear section of this seating area are narrower and older than seats nearer the front, which in turn makes them slightly more uncomfortable.
If you are thinking of booking Love Never Dies tickets and have had a bad experience from buying seats that you didn’t know were restricted in the past then it is worth taking note of the seats mentioned in this article to avoid disappointments. This will ensure that your evening at the Adelphi Theatre is one to remember – for good reasons!