Adelphi Theatre Seating Plan

Seating plan

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Three levels and four Boxes, holding between 1,474 and 1,492 people.

The one thing to understand before you choose

The Adelphi's Stalls change size between productions. Some shows put in a short front row, labelled AA, in front of row A. Others take it out. It holds 16 or 18 seats depending on the staging, and it is the only part of the whole building that moves: the Dress Circle and Upper Circle do not vary by a single seat across three different productions.

It is also why you should never assume row A is the front row here. Billy Elliot has no AA at all. The Lives of Others has it drawn into the plan and has not released it, so row A is where its Stalls start for now. Being on the plan and being on sale are two different things here, so check the plan for your own date.

The levels at a glance

  • Stalls, 628 to 646 seats. The best level in the building, and not by a small margin
  • Dress Circle, 433 seats. A good view, set further back than a Dress Circle usually is
  • Upper Circle, 405 seats. Where the value is, if you do not mind the height
  • Boxes, four of them, two seats each

Stalls or Dress Circle?

The Stalls, on balance, and this is the question people ask most about the Adelphi.

The reason is the geometry rather than the price. This is a wide stage, and from the Dress Circle you take it in from above and from further back than you expect. From the Stalls you just feel a little closer.

The Dress Circle is not a bad level. It is a good view of the whole show, which suits a big musical. But given a free choice at the same money, the Stalls win.

Where the overhang starts, and where it matters

The Dress Circle overhangs the Stalls from row H, but it costs you nothing until row P, or even slightly further back. That is the row where the top of the stage begins to disappear.

Behind row P you are buying a cheaper seat with a known trade-off. In front of it, the overhang is above you and makes no difference.

The Upper Circle overhangs the Dress Circle from about row D on that level.

Seating levels