Hey!

Sorry for the slightly random/ silly question, but thought this would be the best place to post this as there are lots of regular theatre -goers here! I'm in the process of booking tickets to see either Les Mis or The Lion King and because they're a bit last minute, there isn't a lot of choice for seats! The options for stalls are, for Lion King:

http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londo...ans/lyceum.htm

E20- E21

X14 - X15 (obviously worse seats, but a lot cheaper)

G30- 31


Or for Les Mis:

http://www.seetickets.com/see/catego.../plans/que.asp

B22-B23

J12- J13


I've never booked theatre tickets before, so don't know if the cheaper seats would be really bad? Are seats in upper circle etc not very good?
Any advice would be good.. also any recommendations on
which musical is best? Thanks!

E20-21 seems pretty much perfect. I would suggest that row B would be too close.

J12-13 would also be the best for that performance.

Whatever you do when getting tickets for a performance that utilises a lot of props and effects (both Les Mis and Lion King, really), avoid side seats like the PLAGUE. You're better off at the back than at the side. I wouldn't say upper circle aren't good, but you're best going as low as you can. I was in the lower circle for both the Lion King and Les Mis and I enjoyed both. By contrast, I had side seats for Wicked and The Little Mermaid in the stalls and it was less enjoyable because a portion of the stage was completely missing.

As for the musicals, my favourite is The Lion King by *FAR*. I just don't enjoy Les Mis. Clearly considering its longevity there are many people who do, though.

Checkout http://www.theatremonkey.com - they have seating plans with people's opinions on which seats were good value, etc.

Les Mis is my favourite musical of all time by a country mile, and I didn't really enjoy The Lion King as much - but see both!

For Les Mis, I agree with the above - don't go for the side seats. The J seats are quite good.

See Les Mis over Lion King. They are both great, but very different. Les Mis is the musical which first got me into theatre so I think it's a great one to start with!

I agree with the person above, theatremonkey is a great site! It also has links to all of the offers which can save you lots of money on tickets

If you're going with children, the the Lion King is probably a better bet. However, the wife has seen Les Mis about 17 times (and I've seen it about 8 times), and it's always excellent. (I prefer Miss Saigon though, and Chicago is great from row 2).

The nearer the front you are, the more detail you'll see, and get a little more involved. The orchestra also sounds a bit better as well. I agree that it's better to be in the middle than at the side, but front side is better than back middle.

As an example, the first time I saw Phantom was from the gods, and I wasn't impressed at all. The second time (and it took some persuading) it was from the stalls, and wasn't too bad (but give me a good G&S any day)

Thanks for all the great information!! Am leaning towards Les Mis at the mo, but hopefully will see The Lion King some time soon as well

You have to see Les Mis... I did a college production of it... obviously wasnt as good as west end show... but it is fantastic!!

How cool is that?, we've just secured seats for Oliver in the Grand Circle without researching via Theatre Monkey and have just noted a users comment "Among the best seats in the house are rows B and C 12 to 26, and we're in there.

woo, I'm off to see Les Mis

Thanks for the help everyone!

have fun, let us know what you think, les mis is one of my all time favorite, seen it a few times (london, broadway and on tour)

On one of the seats, preferably

^

can't advise you on seats but i think Les Mis will be fantastic. I'm desperate to see it.

Have fun - Les Mis is absolutely amazing.

Hi just skimmed through - if you want to know where to sit in a theatre go to www. theatremonkey.com
- it gives you seat positions and ratings of them

Les Miz I'd definately go for circle seats. There are a lot of lighting effects that you will miss in the stalls.

Generally my preferred choice of seats for anything is middle of the front row of the circle.

but in the front row you really see the blood and phlegm

this website is my bible when it comes to booking shows

but it can be very fussy... I checked the seats I sat in for the Lion King and it didn't rate them that highly and half the reviews said the show was terrible.

Whereas I would fully recommend both it and row R35-39 stalls

i think it has a disclaimer somewhere... but i use it cos if i can get a choice of seats then i'd rather see what other people have said about the seats before hand. i've used it everytime i've gone to the theatre and it hasn't let me down (yet touch wood). and if you have never booked tickets to the theatre before it can offer some valuable info.

as for The Lion King, i personally have never seen if but i have heard the soundtrack and i dont rate that much... but i do know loads of people who have seen it (some on more than one occassion) and they all say it fantastic

I feel the same about Wicked... haven't seen it, have heard some songs and feel a bit blah about it.

I saw Phantom from the gods too!

It actually looks like they are miming from there! Never again.

Last musical I saw was Joseph, had no intention to go but saw a face value ticket on ebay (slightly cheaper as someone had made a group booking) and I ended up in row A of the stalls in the centre, saw fillings and everything from there and could see the orchestra below ground! Be hard to go back further than row E stalls for me now

some wrote:-

Les Miz I'd definately go for circle seats. There are a lot of lighting effects that you will miss in the stalls.

Generally my preferred choice of seats for anything is middle of the front row of the circle.

that may be so, but we have noticed in some theatre's that in the front row, the rail is an obstruction.

It is for short people like myself! Its a nightmare in fact! last time I ended up with a crick in my neck from either sitting forward or sitting back with my head at an angle to miss the bar!

Gods are a nightmare for those of us scared of heights particularly when the steps are so damn steep!

When I sit in the stalls, I find anything in the first three rows a little bit too close as I often have to strain to see upwards. Anything from row four and back is usually fine though. If you sit too close the orchestra pit can sometimes be a negative distraction. It's different in each theatre.

I never sit in the upper circles anymore. I used to when I first began going to shows but the view is usually appalling and the experience of seeing a theatre show live is hightened so much when you can actually see the performers faces. Dress circle can be good - usually cheaper than the stalls but still with a decent view if you get in the front rows.

I Think I'm too late but if you haven't already booked try:

http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/promo/pyhcrf

Top price seats for Les Miserables for £25.

Just go through the booking procedure for Les Mis and enter the code: MEAL in the PICK N MIX PROMOTION box.