Stalls at the Old Vic

In The Round, the Stalls are two blocks facing each other across the circular stage. The main Stalls block rises from stage level almost to the height of the Dress Circle, with four short rows either side in the space where the old Boxes used to be. The Stage Stalls face it from the other side, built on the old stage. Actors use the Stalls aisles to reach the stage, so some of the action comes right past you.

Where the value is

The short side rows, where the old Boxes were, are close to the stage and usually cost less than the main block. The floor there barely rises, so the view is fair rather than clear if someone tall sits in front of you. At top price, look at the main block first.

In the Stage Stalls, rows M and N have pillars in front of some seats. When they're sold as restricted, they're good value. Row N is also short on legroom.

The best seats

The main Stalls block, facing the stage, as close as your budget allows. Productions play all the way round, but they still play more to this side than to the Stage Stalls, so you see more faces from here.

The front rows are level with the stage, with nothing in front of you. Of the first few rows, take C or F. Further back, the middle of rows J to L is the best spot in the block, and the seats around it are almost as good.

What to avoid

At top price, avoid rows D and G. They're flat, so you're sitting directly behind the person in front, and rows C and F are the ones to book. From row H back, the outermost seats of the main block have no aisle beside them, so they can feel closed in, though the rail at the side doesn't block the view. And if you're paying top price, skip the back of the Stage Stalls, rows L to N, which is a long way from the action for the money.

The Stage Stalls

A single raked block with good legroom in every row but N. There's no aisle through the middle; the gap in the centre is an entrance. When the actors face the main Stalls you'll hear them a little less clearly, and the block is built of wood and metal, so footsteps carry.

Legroom, stairs and toilets

The Stalls have the best legroom in the theatre, about 47cm from the edge of your seat to the row in front in the main block, and only row N in the Stage Stalls is tight. They're step-free through the Waterloo Road entrance and its lift, then the central Stalls door, while the doors at the sides have eight steps down to stage level. The access page has the detail.

The Stalls toilets are in the basement, by Penny, the basement bar and café, which you can reach by lift or 19 steps. The foyer bar is on the ground floor, four steps up from the inner foyer. The toilets are limited, so at the interval the basement is the place to head for, or next door to the Backstage café.