Super Seat at Trafalgar Studios

[kevvietoes]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 6:59pm

Can someone please explain what a "super seat" is at Trafalgar Studios? My friend and I purchased tickets online for The Ruling Class, and when I looked at the receipt it said Super Seat that includes a welcome drink, a program or a theater gift, and a variety box. We don't recall checking off anything that said Super Seat when we purchased the tickets, so is this just a thing that the theater normally does for what we consider orchestra seats here in the U.S.?

[JustJakUK]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 4:26am

"Super seats" are just a regular theatre seats, normally the best seats in the house with all the add-ons included (drink, program etc), you don't have the option of just purchasing the seat on its own and they are considerably more expensive that the regular seats around them. It's essentially ATG (the company who own the theatre) trying to make more money as you are less likely to purchase ALL of those items individually when you arrive on the night. It's not a normal thing in the west end but ATG have rolled this out in many of their theatres. The Trafalgar studios was the old Whitehall Theatre that was converted a number of years ago to create two performance spaces. There's only 1 seating area in each studio. Studio 1 where the "Ruling Class" is being performed takes up what would have been the front of the orchestra stalls & the dress circle and is quite high & steep the further back you go through the auditorium. Consequently you're not going to get a bad seat wherever you sit.

[JustJakUK]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 6:09am

I meant to add as well that when booking theatre tickets online, if available,its always best if you choose the option that says "Let me select my own seats" which the ATG website has. This way you'll be able to see a seating plan of the whole auditorium, see what seats are actually available, click on individual seats, see the price banding, where the "Super seats" are and an explanation of what you actually get with the "super seat". If you simply "let the computer select the best seats for you" it will give you the best seats available but at a premium price!

[kevvietoes]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 8:18pm

Thanks very much for all of the information. It's really good to know. We actually did buy our tickets already, back when they first went on sale, and used the seating chart to select our seats. But when we got the receipt it listed the seats we had selected and it said "Super Seats" and listed these extras, which I had never seen before. When we purchased the seats it didn't say anything about super seats, so I wasn't sure where that came from.

I'm also glad that the theater is small. We have seats up front, but I wasn't sure how close that actually brings you to the stage. In NY, you generally want to sit about four rows back for the best seats because the first two rows are often smack in front of the stage, and you miss a lot of rear-stage action.

[ggersten]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 9:29pm

When I saw "Ghosts" at Trafalgar, there was no raised stage. The first row was basically on the stage. (I was there with a day seat). You could easily reach out and touch an actor.

[kevvietoes]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 8:10pm

Oh my goodness, what a thrilling experience that must have been! If my seat is half as close for The Ruling Class I will be happy.

[ggersten]

Posted: 2/20/15 at 1:43am

the ever invaluable theatremonkey.com doesn't have any seats in "red" for The Ruling Class, but indicates that there is no rating because the auditorium is being altered. It does suggest that there is now a raised stage for this production. I put a link in for the overall impression of seating.

I also checked seatplan.com but Trafalgar is not on the website.

Enjoy the show and report back!




theatremonkey seating plan Updated On: 2/20/15 at 01:43 AM

[rjm516]

Posted: 2/20/15 at 12:09pm

What is a variety box?

[kevvietoes]

Posted: 2/20/15 at 5:07pm

rjm, I have no idea. That's what I've been trying to find out.

Thank you, ggersten! I'm surprised I haven't seen much writeup on the boards about this play.

[ggersten]

Posted: 2/20/15 at 9:57pm

This is a thread from a UK theatre message board, that is much more active regarding London theatre than this board. But, be warned, not everyone enjoyed the play, but did enjoy the lead performance. So read at your own risk.
Theatreforum

[kevvietoes]

Posted: 2/20/15 at 10:42pm

Thanks for that. I really wondered why there wasn't much talk of the show here since it has a big-name actor starring. The headlines for the few reviews I scanned here seemed to indicate the show isn't great but that McAvoy saves the show.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 2/27/15 at 10:21pm

Variety Box which includes Bottle of wine (187ml) or Water (330ml)
Corkers Crisps
Cadbury Buttons
Beechdean Ice-Cream†
Ambassador Experience for Trafalgar Studios

[kevvietoes]

Posted: 2/27/15 at 10:47pm

Thank you for answering that question. It amazes me that plays offer food. I thought that was just a Broadway thing, but it seems like it's becoming the thing.

[The Glenbuck Laird]

Posted: 3/3/15 at 5:54pm

Seats are shocking at The Trafalgar. Promise you, I'd settle for a seat that was half way decent

[kevvietoes]

Posted: 3/3/15 at 7:31pm

So basically, there are no bad seats in the theater?

[Theatrefan2]

Posted: 3/3/15 at 10:28pm

There are only 380 seats. You already have your seat. Relax and just wait to fly over. Worry more about what other shows you will see.

[kevvietoes]

Posted: 3/3/15 at 10:40pm

Ha. We saw Les Mis last summer, and it was great. I'd seen one of the Broadway versions, but it was an experience seeing it on the London stage.

[ggersten]

Posted: 3/4/15 at 1:01pm

So, when are you seeing The Ruling Class?
What else do you have lined up? Good word on Imelda Staunton in Gypsy. Miss Saigon is stunning. Sunny Afternoon is a blast. The Play That Goes Wrong is well worth your time (from a seat that is not obstructed view)

[kevvietoes]

Posted: 3/4/15 at 6:50pm

We have tickets for the 24th (we are missing the show with the Q&A after by one day). We have other things planned for the days we'll be in London, so we're only seeing TRC. I'm from NY, so I've seen a lot of the same musicals on Broadway. We're only seeing TRC because of McAvoy--he doesn't seem to want to do Broadway. I know Penelope Wilton is also doing a show now, and that would be fun to see.

[ggersten]

Posted: 3/9/15 at 5:21pm

McAvoy was just nominated for an Olivier for his performance in The Ruling Class.

[kevvietoes]

Posted: 3/9/15 at 5:45pm

Yes! I missed the nominations this morning. Good for him. He's such a low-profile actor hear, that it's good to see he's getting recognition over there.

I heard that the other night a woman in the audience passed out, and James stopped the show and rushed over to her and asked if there was a doctor in the house (how many times do you actually hear that question used in real life?). After the woman was taken care of James gave the thumbs up and then show went on as though nothing had happened.

[fenwic]

Posted: 3/14/15 at 7:10pm

That actually happened when he did Macbeth back in 2013. (I was lucky enough to be there.) Toward the end of the climactic fight between Macbeth and Macduff, an audience member stands up and says, "I'm sorry, we need an usher." James immediately stops the action, strides toward the guy (who's in the fourth or fifth row) and says, "That's all right, mate, you all good?" The guy says no, and James pretty much takes command. He calls out to the crew that there's an emergency and asks for water and a first aid kit. I believe it's Jamie (Ballard, who's playing Macduff) who asks to bring up house lights.

House management comes in and people move out of the way as they help the poor woman (and the young girl who's with her) out of the theatre. During all this, James is asking the guy if he knows her (he doesn't), and how long she'd been in trouble (I don't hear the answer). Then James reaches out and shakes the guy's hand.

After the offstage drama ends (and it seems like the woman will be fine), James and Jamie stand there kind of awkwardly like: So. That happened. Which cracks the audience up. Then James says, "I would usually say we'd go back to the beginning of the scene... but the truth is, we're ****ing knackered." And then the audience is laughing and applauding :) Then they cutely work out where they will pick up, and after a few more jokes, they jump right back into the fight!

I know these guys are pros and actors handle unexpected stuff onstage all the time, but that was truly impressive.

Then the fight ends, the play ends, and the audience gives them an enthusiastic standing O :)

But sorry, back on topic: I ended up with a "super seat" for Ruling Class because there was no other option for the seat I'd selected. I would have bought a program and ice cream anyway, but probably not the other snacks and beverages (candy, crisps, and water and soda as I don't drink). Still, I travelled from California, so I wasn't going to let a few extra pounds stand between me and a good seat :)

[kevvietoes]

Posted: 3/14/15 at 7:34pm

Your story is exactly why live theater is magic. I've been to several performances where the fourth wall was broken and it really does add to the experience.

As long as I get the seats we selected I'm happy. I, too, was planning on buying a program anyway. We'll likely decline the snacks, though.

Glad to hear I'm not the only Yank who will travel across the pond to see McAvoy!

[fenwic]

Posted: 3/14/15 at 8:07pm

Agreed! During the same Macbeth trip, I was at a performance of Les Mis that had to stop the overture with the scrim already a quarter of the way up (you could see up to the actors' knees, heh), because some instrument sounded horribly out of whack. After the false start, all went well, but yeah, extra-curricular excitement often makes the experience that much more interesting :)

And ack, I think I'd barely paid off the Macbeth trip when Ruling Class was announced I wish James would have mercy on my wallet and come do Broadway!

[kevvietoes]

Posted: 3/14/15 at 9:23pm

Seriously, I live across the river from NYC, so it would very convenient if he came to Broadway. I don't know what keeps him away. He could bring the wife and kid.