The Globe Theatre website shows a very limited number of tickets available for performances during the third week in May when we will be there, and most of them are "restricted view" which I understand from the site has to do with the construction of the theater. I'm wondering if large blocks of tickets are reserved for groups, as it seems unlikely to me that they would be so booked up at this point, but maybe they are ! Do some available seats open up closer to the performance date? My question is: Should we book ahead now (and take the crummy seats) or wait until we are in London and see what we can get? Also, I've read that the back rows of each gallery have a wall behind them so as to enable one to lean back. Is this true? Hubby is recovering from back surgery so being a "groundling" (as fun as that looks) isn't an option for us. Thanks all !
Posted by
Brighton, UK
1419 posts
Susan The Globe gets booked up really fast so I don't think you are going to get seats opening up later on. I would take what you can get now. We've had 'restricted view' when we've been late in booking and they are generally fine. There are pillars on the stage which block part of the view but most of the action goes on in front of those. Yes, the back of each booth has a wall so if this is an issue it is worth going for that. In the rows further forward you are leaning back against a half step. It's a really good space for productions and well worth going even if you can only get 'crummy' seats. It's worth getting cushions! Have a great time. Alan
Posted by
Kansas City
132 posts
The seats do go fast. I'm also going the third week of May and I bought mine the day they went on sale to the general public. They offer advanced sales to members, and when I got my tickets, pretty much all of the front row seats were gone in all sections except the ends. We were lucky enough to get second row second level close to the middle. I'd get them now. I have read that the shows often sell out and if you wait until you get there, groundling may be the only tickets left. Also, it took about 17 days for my tickets to arrive. That may be because a lot of people bought at the same time as they had just become available, but I would say sooner is better.
Posted by
Tucson
28 posts
There may be a few tickets left but what you need to realize is you're paying for the experience of stepping back in time, so there are no real comfortable seats in the entire theater. If one of your party has back issues I would recommend you try and find a seat in one of the back rows, this would mean you have a solid wooden slab to rest your back on, all the others are just narrow wooden benches. You can rent seat rests and back rests but they are minimally effective at best. The Globe is great fun and they do really good work there but comfortable it is not.
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
If you can try to get seats in the "Gentleman's Rooms" (boxes) on the Middle Gallery in bays A,B,P, or Q. These are the two bays closest to the stage, so you won't see all of the stage, but they have individual upholstered chairs and are the most comfortable parts of the theatre if you have back problems. They may already be sold out though and occasionally they are booked as a block for hospitality packages.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
1068 posts
Also, bear in mind that everyone who directs a show there knows about the seating/sight lines issues, and productions are blocked so as to make sure that everyone in the audience gets a full experience. The cast is directed to play to ALL the seats. It's really great!
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
That was true under Mark Rylance. Unfortunately since Dominic Dromgoole took over as artistic director certain individual play directors, not to mention any names, have tended to treat it as a proscenium arch theatre and play everything straight out the front, which isn't the best experience for most people in the building.
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
Definitely try and get the back row seats for the back support. The seating is NOT comfortable in any way and the performances can be long. Renting the seat cushions help, but if hubby has back issues, he could suffer no matter. There are support posts and the further back you sit, the more posts will block some of your view. In general each seat has a good view and the theater has a very intimate feel so most any seat is a good seat.