Worst Theatre Seats?

If I've only paid £15/20 I kind of expect that the seat may not be perfect, although I had forgotten quite how uncomfortable the Travelex ones are at the Lyttleton. My discomfort may have been increased by the torture I was watching most recently but there you go.

What really grinds my beans though is the places which charge full price or even premium price for seats that are not fit for purpose. The back few rows of the Wyndhams for example or the worst offender, Trafalgar Studios, how they have the temerity to charge £85 for miniscule seats with leg room for perhaps a two year old completely baffles me but then perhaps we are at fault for paying it. I have become very acquainted with the people I have sat with on a number of occasions. More than they perhaps wanted. However until I shrink my buttocks to the size of two rose petals and lose about a foot in height I can't see there being any change.

Also, granted it was about £40 but Found 111!! I had to pay that amount to sit on a chair which had been rummaged out of the back of someones shed, not dusted, not padded for a little extra comfort, not even bloody stable on it's legs.

Cinemas have the advantage of usually not being in listed buildings and also the seat are pitched differently to theatre seats. 

It is a surprise that newer theatres like The Other Palace or a refurbished one like Dorfman have issues with seating and sightlines, I'm not expecting a perfect view in every seat but surely it is something that should be addressed in the planning stage

Yes, but I'm a very advanced two year old. 

Have vowed never to sit in the gallery at the sunderland empire ever again. The view is truly awful.

Back of the Garrick in the pillar seats - not worth it

Theatres weren't in listed buildings when they were built. Sometimes it's almost as if the theatre was designed by someone who thought "OK, we'll put the seats where you can't see anything just there, and this part can be the unraked section that will result in heads blocking the view, and the rows that are so close together that people have to stand on the seats to let others by can go over there..."

With the Prince Of Wales in particular you can see where the money has been spent  -excellent level of comfort and legroom. At 6'6" I can appreciate that seating is going to be a little tight but I resent spending hours in pain at the current prices. There is no point booking most upper circle / balcony seats so that generally means top price is the only viable option. Very grateful that Sheffield Crucible and the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds are two of my locals- excellent sight lines, good legroom.

Forgot the stalls at the Duchess - the seat was so low I thought about booking a chiropractor for the interval!

I didn't know that either! Explains a lot though. You forgot to mention the low backs as well which add to the fun!! 

Where are the Travelex seats?

I saw Amadeus from Row G of the Olivier Circle - which is the very back row and looking back I've been down as far as Row B in the Circle on a Travelex. Whilst in the Lyttleton I've only been once on a Travelex and was in Row J of the Circle.

Agree - first few rows of the Olivier are a massive bargain; smaller and a bit cramped but the view is fabulous. The Lyttleton is far less so - really uncomfortable and you lose a lot of the stage. But I've never found a good seat in there, it's a really alienating theatre.

The only thing for both is that it needs to be more explicit during the booking process that they are narrow, cramped spaces and won't be for everyone. I've seen a lot of people who just can't fit trying to sit in them and taking up half the seat of the person next to them, which is uncomfortable for everyone. In general, theatres probably need to start being clear about how big a seat actually is so people can go for the roomier option if necessary.

A big part of the problem with restricted views throughout the auditorium, including premium central stalls in the outdated West End theatres, is that the nature of theatre productions has changed since the theatres were originally planned and built.

Noel Gallagher Theatre - 'sat' in the slips for Cheery Orchard 20 odd years ago. Appalling seats. U can't see the flippin stage!

Wolverhampton Grand have "Listening Only" seats. I kid you not. I don't dare sit in them, but they're extreme sides of the Stalls &I Dress Circle, where I guess you will see next-to-nothing. I get it, they've obviously thought "there's some space there, let's put some seats in", but who goes to the theatre happily expecting that they're not going to see anything?!

Some of my nominations for terrible seats:

-Queens Theatre second row Upper Circle. If these were discounted more I wouldn't have an issue, but they're a rip off at second price. Leg room is zero, and also the leaners in front and staging crossing the proscenium meaning a restricted view (much worse than "may need to lean forwards" as the ticket suggests"

-Savoy back row dress, side block. No issue with the view, but legroom is worse than a Ryanair flight, and the back of the seat is a wall so is flat, no comfort at all. At least this one is marked as "Limited legroom" so you're expecting it.

Some of my favourites are Prince Edward, Prince of Wales, and Salford Lowry. Never had any seating issues at any of these.